This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
With a reputation that has divided opinion over the last season, there were a few raised eyebrows when the recipient of the FIFA Fair-play award for sportsmanship was announced, with Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa picking up the accolade.
The award went to the Elland Road side after the Whites manager ordered his side to allow Villa to walk the ball into the net and equalise, during their crucial Championship encounter in April.
There were of course all the spying incidents involving Leeds last season, whereby Bielsa ordered scouts to watch every opposition's training sessions before their scheduled fixtures.
So is it a shock to see Leeds pick up an award for fair-play?
We discuss........
Ben Lang
"To me, this was a hugely surprising result given the full extent of what happened at Leeds last season.
"I can understand why Bielsa and Leeds might have received the award for their sportsmanship in allowing Villa to score, but it seems contradictory to hand out this award after the 'spygate' saga.
"Leeds were issued a fine for spying on Derby earlier this year and FIFA surely should have acknowledged this before giving them the award.
"The act of spying was perhaps not technically illegal, but it created a huge storm at the time and the safer option would have surely been to not give Leeds the award."
Dean Cooke
"I was a bit shocked, I don't think many people saw that coming at all. When it first popped up on my timeline, I thought it was a prank because of the whole Spygate saga that had taken place last season.
"The moment itself was superb from the Whites, and with promotion on the line I could see a lot of other teams not allowing the opposition to score after that controversial goal.
"Bielsa was the man who told them, and deep down he does seem like a genuinely honest person who admits to any wrong-doing."
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Jacob Potter
"What an odd decision this is.
"I’m not doubting that Bielsa’s act against Aston Villa was sporting, but to hand Leeds the FairPlay award based off that is an absolute joke.
"There would have been far more worthy winners of the award, and Leeds fans won’t be pleased to be reliving this incident again.
"I think the reaction from Radio Five Live said enough for me, it’s a hysterical decision to see Bielsa handed that accolade.
"If the Whites can go one step further and win promotion back into the Premier League this season though, then they won’t be bothered in the slightest at scooping this award."