Leeds United have issued a response to the FA's decision to hand Jordan Stevens a six-week ban.
The Whites midfielder was charged with misconduct by the Football Association after being found to have breached regulations on betting.
Stevens placed a total of 59 bets on football matches between August 2018 to May 2019.
The 19-year-old admitted the offence, which included betting on five of Leeds' own matches.
A statement released by the FA read: "Jordan Stevens has been suspended from all football and football related activity with immediate effect for a period of six weeks.
"The midfielder was also fined £1,200."
But Leeds have responded in support of their player.
"We are hugely disappointed in the FA's choice of sanction," said Leeds chief executive Angus Kinnear.
"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.
"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."
Stevens has only made one appearance for Leeds since his arrival at the club from Forest Green on 2018.
He featured in the Championship defeat away at Stoke last season, but is yet to be involved in first-team action in this campaign.
All participants in the Premier League, Football League, National League and several other levels are banned from betting on football worldwide.
A number of high-profile players have been caught up in betting issues in recent years.
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was also handed a six-week ban in the summer, along with a £75,000 fine, for being found to have provided information to his brother about a possible move to Sevilla.
Ex-Man City and Burnley midfielder Joey Barton was slapped with an 18-month ban from all football activity in 2017 - which was later reduced to 13 months, after placing over 1,000 bets on matches over a 10-year period.
