Blades fined again: Maybe it’s time to let the football do the talking | OneFootball

Sheffield United’s game against Leeds United tonight will be televised on Sky Sports Football. However, based on recent times any encounter involving the Blades would more appropriately be found on the undercard of a Box Office Main Event.

Now, we all love a bit of passion and willingness to fight for the badge. It’s partly why we’ve so quickly taken to Sydie Peck, who thankfully was airlifted out of trouble by Kieffer Moore during the scenes against Watford.

The most recent fine

The Blades’ issue is that what the FA describes as a ‘mass confrontation’ seems to be becoming more prevalent where United are concerned. The club was just yesterday fined £40,000 by the FA for the ‘mass confrontation’ against Portsmouth.

Whereas, Portsmouth only suffered a £6,000 fine showcasing the financial downside to the Blades’ recent on-field behaviour. With Leeds and Wednesday coming up perhaps its time to let the football do the talking.

Why the Blades’ fine is more expensive

The recent report showed that since January of 2022, the Blades have been involved in ten fines based on what the FA describes as ‘multi-player misconduct’ including nine ‘mass confrontation’ sanctions and one ‘surrounding match official’ sanction. All of these were considered when deciding the new £40,000 fine.

Before the most recent fine, the Blades had been fined £75,500 for the ten examples of ‘multi-player misconduct’, five of which related to youth games.

Portsmouth, however, only had three previous sanctions in the report dating back to the 24th of November 2020. The two ‘mass confrontations’ and one ‘surrounding match official’ fines cost them only a combined £7,500.

The most recent fine takes Portsmouth’s total to £13,500, however, it is their only ‘multi-player misconduct’ fine of this season. Their most recent being against Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day of 2023.

(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Whereas, the Blades ‘confrontation’ at Fratton Park sees their third sanction of the new season after being fined £17,000 for the ‘mass confrontation’ against Watford on the 1st of September 2024. As well as £8,500 for the ‘mass confrontation’ against Wrexham in the EFL Cup on the 13th of September.

The new charge for the Blades takes their total fines since the 18th of January 2022 up to £115,500. If we compare Portsmouth’s fines since December of 2020 and the Blades fines for just this season for ‘multi-player misconduct’. It is clear to see the detrimental impact of a loss of composure from United’s players.

With the Blades suffering an almost five times as costly experience for their behaviour on the pitch for this season alone compared to Pompey’s in almost four years.

Takeaways

The takeaways from this are perhaps to keep the passion in the performance and celebrations rather than trying to recreate the Battle of Bramall Lane.

Plus, if its possible maybe make ten Kieffer Moore clones to act as bouncers between our players and any more ‘mass confrontations’.