United disappointed as FA fail to take action against Ashbee

Leeds United have accused the Football Association of inconsistency following their decision not to charge Hull City captain Ian Ashbee over an incident that left striker Luciano Becchio with a black eye.

The Elland Road club are incensed by the decision not to take action against the Tigers captain over what they allege was a clear elbow in the face of Becchio during Tuesday night's Yorkshire derby.

Referee Kevin Friend deemed the clash towards the end of the

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2-2 draw to be fair and allowed play to continue, a stance he repeated in his subsequent report to the FA.

Leeds, however, insist Ashbee should have been punished with manager Simon Grayson admitting after Tuesday's game that he was "gobsmacked" by the official's version of events.

The FA's subsequent decision to back Friend has left United officials hugely disappointed – especially as their then striker Jermaine Beckford was banned for three games two years ago after being caught on camera elbowing Millwall goalkeeper David Forde.

A United club spokesman said: "Like all clubs, what we seek and should demand from the FA is consistency. Trial by television is either the way forward or it is not. It cannot be utilised on an ad-hoc basis.

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"We had circumstances two seasons ago when Jermaine Beckford was suspended for an elbow that hadn't been seen by the referee at the time.

"Even though the referee claims to have seen the incident on Tuesday, he plainly cannot have had the view that we had and is shown by the TV images. Otherwise, you would have expected him to take action.

"If he didn't see it clearly then that is the circumstances when trial by television should be used."

Last month, Leeds manager Grayson was left fuming when no action was taken by the Welsh FA – who preside over all disciplinary matters involving clubs from the principality – against striker Jay Bothroyd for what he considered to be a dangerous tackle on Becchio during Cardiff City's 4-0 win at Elland Road.