Leeds United have responded to Jordan Stevens' six-week betting ban.

Leeds are stunned that Stevens has been suspended from all football activity, including training, and is forbidden to have contact with anyone at the club.

In a statement Leeds said: “As a club we feel that banning a 19-year-old footballer from even participating in training or interacting with the club's staff is an excessive punishment."

Chief executive Angus Kinnear is dismayed Stevens cannot even train with Leeds for the next six weeks and claims the FA's disciplinary panel of former players should have shown more understanding.

Kinnear said: “Whilst we fully recognise the importance of the FA's role in protecting the integrity of the game, we are hugely disappointed in the FA's choice of sanction.

“To prevent a young footballer from taking part in any football activities at such a critical period of his career is a disproportionate punishment following a foolish mistake from a young player.

“We are particularly disappointed that the sanction was determined by two former professional footballers, who we hoped would have had a better understanding of the impact of their decision."