LEEDS United's appeal against a 15-point penalty has been rejected following a meeting of Football League chairmen at a special meeting in London.Leeds chairman Ken Bates made an impassioned plea to have the sanction lifted after the club were finally granted permission to play in League One after being handed back their share.

LEEDS United's appeal against a 15-point penalty has been rejected following a meeting of Football League chairmen at a special meeting in London.

Leeds chairman Ken Bates made an impassioned plea to have the sanction lifted after the club were finally granted permission to play in League One after being handed back their share.

But an "overwhelming" majority of Football League chairmen voted to uphold the 15-point deduction.

More than 75% of clubs initially agreed Leeds deserved to be punished for failing to meet the Football League's strict rules on insolvency and they then agreed, by the same majority, not to reduce the penalty.

Leeds were docked ten points last year when they went into administration days after an Alan Lee goal effectively relegated them from the Championship.