(Credit: talkSPORT/Imago)

Jacob Raw

Fri 27 March 2026 13:10, UK

Kieran Maguire believes that the Premier League were right to award Leeds United a six-figure fine for alleged time wasting.

The Whites were given the £530,000 fine after being guilty of delaying kick-offs and second-half restarts across nine matches this campaign

Leeds came to a sanction agreement with the Premier League over the fine last week, as the 49ers may have had an interesting conversation with Daniel Farke on the matter.

The Whites already have some financial constraints as it is, and for them to lose a big chunk of money over something so small could disappoint the owners.

Leeds will not want another fine, so it’s highly likely that they won’t be seen doing what Maguire thinks is ‘deliberate’ to upset the opposition.

Kieran Maguire backs Premier League decision to fine Leeds

Some Leeds fans may argue that other teams do the same, or that the Premier League has targeted them on purpose, but the reality is that it can’t be reversed now.

It’s not the first time that the Whites have been handed a fine from the Premier League either.

While speaking on The Price of Football podcast, finance expert Maguire, who has delved into a fair share of footballing fines, weighed in on Leeds’ situation.

Maguire said: “This comes under the broader header of sporting integrity. If a football club delays coming out for the second half, if it increases the chance of muscle tear or mentally slows them [opposition] down, then marginal gains do have a benefit.

“There are limits to halftime to ensure that one side doesn’t get an advantage. The multiple offences that have led to the charge and the fine, because it involves nine matches, it’s clearly some form of deliberate strategy.”

Ex-FIFA official Keith Hackett also agreed that Leeds should have been fined, and it seems like the wider footballing community feels the same way.

Leeds are fighting for their lives to stay in the top-flight, so it would be no surprise to see them gunning for any possible edge over an opponent.

How can Leeds legally gain edge over opponents now?

Leeds will know that if they were to carry on in the same manner of delaying kick-offs, then they could face an even bigger fine, and possibly even a points deduction if things got very bad.

But the chances of Farke instructing his side to do that are very slim. However, there are still ways the German head coach can reap marginal gains over opponents.

Delaying throw-ins and other set-pieces can be used as a way to frustrate opponents, with using the goalkeeper to hold onto the ball for as long as they can also an option.

The worst that can happen here is a booking, because there’s no way the Premier League could fine the Whites for something like that.

Alternatively, Farke could use substitutions to slow the momentum of a game down, with players walking slowly off the pitch to upset an away crowd or opposition on their own turf.

Leeds are entering the final seven games of the season, and every edge will count.