Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has given his view on Jordan Steven's punishment, after the midfielder was banned from all football-related activity for six weeks for breaching Football Association betting rules. 

The 19-year-old was suspended from all football-related activity for six weeks and was also fined £1,200, after admitting to a charge of placing 59 bets on football matches last season.

Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear commented on the situation earlier this week, admitting that although Stevens has made a mistake, the club are disappointed with the FA's choice of punishment.

Bielsa was speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday's Championship clash against Barnsley at Oakwell, when he gave his thoughts on the situation, as reported by Phil Hay of The Athletic.

"The mistake he made was in the rules. It's a good thing that the Football Association tell everyone that if you make this mistake, afterwards there will be a consequence. But I don't think I have the authority to make an opinion" Bielsa said.

According to Hay, Bielsa also said that Stevens' ban is effectively longer than six weeks because the player will need time to regain his fitness when he returns, but said that he did not have the authority to give his opinion on the punishment itself.

Stevens has made one first-team appearance for Leeds since joining the club from Forest Green Rovers in February 2018, but has appeared on the bench in the Championship on a few occasions.

The Verdict

Stevens is a young player and he's made a very foolish mistake. He deserves to be punished, but I think that banning him from all football-related activity for six weeks is a rather excessive punishment.

At the end of the day, Stevens needs learn from his mistake and the best way for him to do that is by getting support from the club, but his ban from football-related activity makes it very difficult for the club support him.

I understand where Bielsa is coming from too, as Stevens won't be able to do any training during his ban, so he'll effectively be out for longer than six weeks, as he'll need time to regain his fitness when his suspension is up.