Leeds United FC

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• Manager:Simon Grayson

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Grayson calls for consistency

13 Feb 2009 - 12:02:10

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Leeds United boss Simon Grayson wants more consistency from referees following the three-game ban handed down to Jermaine Beckford.

The striker was banned by the Football Association after television replays saw him elbow Millwall goalkeeper David Forde in the face during Monday's 2-0 win at Elland Road.

Beckford was shown a yellow card by referee Alan Wiley and it seemed at the time that he had been booked for the incident.

However, the referee subsequently revealed that he booked the striker for an earlier incident and therefore the FA could intervene and use retrospective video evidence.

"Everyone's seen what's happened and you can't defend the indefendable at times," Grayson told the club's official website.

"If Sky hadn't been at the game there wouldn't have been such a fuss, but at the same time we can't defend it.

"If the officials had booked him for the elbow they couldn't change it, but if it was for a push then there's something wrong with that.

"Did anyone in the ground know why he'd been booked? Most people just saw a melee. Maybe it would be a way forward if the player was told why he was booked and there'd be no comeback.

"I want some consistency. Look at Liverpool and Chelsea when (Jose) Bosingwa appeared to stamp down someone's back and got away with it. How anyone can say that wasn't a blatant incident I don't know.

"Players can't go around hurting people. I'm not complaining about a three-game ban, but I think we all want to see some consistency."