THE FA hung up referee Dermot Gallagher to dry for failing to show consistency in failing to send off Robbie Keane.

So who's going to punish the FA for failing to show consistency in punishing Gallagher?

Gallagher actually got it dead right at Old Trafford. Beckham did not deserve any more than a booking for taking Keane's legs from under him with a wild challenge and Keane did not deserve a great punishment than his adversary for a retaliatory action which was far less vicious or potentially damaging.

Two passionate players sorted it out with a handshake, neither side was robbed of a key man and the crowd could continue to watch a thrilling spectacle.

Well done Mr Gallagher.

Unfortunately, the referee is supposed to play it by the rule book. No flexibility or application of commonsense is allowed on the basis that if you give refs their heads they might stray a little too far from the rules and leave themselves open to accusations of 'lacking consistency'.

Of course, consistency is something footballers need from referees so they know where they stand and Gallagher has been slaughtered by the FA for failing to apply the same red card that was applied to Paul Ince for his handbags at dawn push in the face on Niall Quinn recently.

Where the fault lies is in sending anybody off for a mere push above the neck. People seem to have been brainwashed into accepting that the raising of hands by a footballer should result in instant dismissal.

There is a world of difference in the offences that can be committed by raising hands. An elbow or a fist to the head should be instantly followed by a red card but a push as in the cases of Keane and Ince never did any physical damage and should be yellow carded.

The FA, in explaining the demotion of Gallagher from Premiership to Nationwide League duties, say that Keane's offence falls under the category of "violent conduct". Well, if Keane's push is considered to be violent - and more violent than Beckham's cynical hacking down of the Leeds man at that - then we need a new FA.

The FA are running scared in the face of constant whingeing of managers and supporters about refereeing standards and they are piling intense pressure on referees.

They would be better off giving refs back their authority and telling them to use their experience and commonsense to call each incident as they see it than coming down like a ton of bricks on the managers who are wrongly being allowed to win their concerted campaign against the men in black.