So we’ve finally got the verdict from the Independent Tribunal concerning the scandalous 15-point deduction Leeds United were penalised with this season. Surprise, surprise the decision to punish the Yorkshire club was upheld. Did anyone actually think justice would be served at such an important stage of the season? I personally did not.

With so many clubs involved in the promotion race there was never a chance Leeds would be given any number of points back as the potential for a backlash from sides such as Swansea, Doncaster, Nottingham Forest, Carlisle and Southend would have been great. The Tribunal’s decision or lack of one leaves just one club rightly upset rather than a number of them and that unfortunately is long-suffering Leeds.

A Season of Turmoil at Elland Road

On the pitch Leeds have performed absolute heroics to finish in the top 6, they’ve clawed back a 15-point deficit to clinch a League One play-off spot as well as having to contend first with their assistant manager Gus Poyet leaving to join Tottenham then their manager Dennis Wise departing for Newcastle.

Marching on Together

They began the season on fire after going 14 League matches unbeaten and only a 7-match winless run from January to February prevented the club competing for an automatic promotion slot even with the points deduction. The fact that the Leeds squad hasn’t allowed their situation to prevent them competing for promotion is testament to the excellent attitude of the players in what must have been an extremely difficult season from the outset. If not for the 15-point penalty, Leeds would currently sit 2nd in the division just a point behind leaders Swansea with 1-game to play. Promotion would already be assured and only the right to go up as champions would be in the balance.

Leeds Determined to Leave League One Behind

The decision to deduct 15-points was obviously made with the sole intent of keeping Leeds in League One this season but unfortunately for the Football League rulers the whole club has been determined to gain promotion and to prove the rule-enforcers wrong. The will of the club to triumph over adversity has ultimately led to this current fiasco. I can understand the uproar amongst fellow promotion chasing clubs concerning Leeds chances of getting their points back but to be fair aren’t those points the club’s by rights as they’ve earned them not in a court but where it matters…on the pitch.

At least now Leeds can concentrate fully on gaining promotion at the first attempt albeit via the play-offs and what would be more of a fitting way to achieve this goal than in a show-piece final at Wembley. I am not a Leeds fan and have nothing against any of the other play-off sides but in terms of justice being done I would love to see Gary McAllister and his team go up in a blaze of glory at the national stadium and then we can finally draw a line under this Football League fiasco!

Written by Christian Goodbrand