Gallagher demotion confirmed

Dermot Gallagher prepares to reprieve Robbie Keane

Referee Dermot Gallagher will be "relegated" to the Nationwide League for failing to send off Leeds' Robbie Keane against Manchester United.

The Football Association confirmed on Monday that the Banbury official will be reprimanded.

Keane escaped with only a yellow card for a two-handed push in David Beckham's face that floored the England captain in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

A directive for referees declares a player should be sent off for raising his hands to an opponent.

Dermot faces a period away from refereeing certain games

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington

Striking an opponent is an automatic red card offence - although Gallagher may claim it was merely an over-enthusiastic push.

"We are disappointed that Dermot Gallagher chose to make the decision he made," FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said.

"He will be meeting with his manager of the professional match officials' group (Philip Don), and he faces a period away from refereeing certain games."

Gallagher will be taken off the Premier League list, although the FA could not confirm how long his ban would last.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson insisted Keane should have seen red - while his counterpart David O'Leary admitted the Republic of Ireland striker was lucky not to be sent off.

Six days before the Old Trafford encounter, Middlesbrough midfielder Paul Ince was dismissed by Mark Halsey in a televised game against Sunderland for a less violent shove on Niall Quinn.

And the Professional Footballers Association are now calling for improved consistency from referees.

"If incidents are broadly comparable we would like the same outcome so everybody knows where they stand," said PFA chairman Barry Horne.

"That give referees protection so they're not open to criticism because when you get sent off for something one week and not the next it does leave referees open to criticism."