Soccer-Leeds fail in bid to overturn 15-point deficit

LONDON, May 1 (Reuters) - Leeds United failed in their bid to overturn a 15-point deduction on Thursday, leaving them in the promotion playoff places in League One (third division) and confirming Swansea City as champions.

Leeds were deducted 15 points for breaching insolvency rules when they went into administration after they were relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time at the end of last season.

They appealed against the sanction but the club said in a statement that the independent arbitration panel appointed by the Football Association ruled that it should stand and that there would be no further appeals.

Leeds, Champions League semi-finalists seven years ago, overcame the 15-point handicap to secure a playoff place with one match of the regular season remaining but had they had some or all of the docked points returned, could have been catapulted into an automatic promotion position.

The decision is also good news for Doncaster Rovers, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle, who remain in the hunt for the second automatic promotion place. (Writing by Mitch Phillips, editing by Rex Gowar)