Oxfordshire's top referee, Dermot Gallagher, could be reprieved from demotion to the Nationwide League after it was claimed the Football Association got his punishment wrong.

Gallagher, who lives in Banbury and is also Thame United's commercial manager, was expected to be demoted from the Barclaycard Premiership after failing to send off Leeds United's Robbie Keane when he pushed over David Beckham during the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford recently.

Fellow referees Paul Durkin and Steve Bennett also faced sanctions for failing to discipline offenders during games.

But referees association spokesman Keith Cooper told the Daily Star: "They can't discipline any of these refs because they haven't followed the procedure laid down in the FA handbook.

"The FA have made a monumental blunder and are having to back-track," added Cooper.

Referees have to be notified in writing, provided with evidence and given 14 days to admit the charge or request a personal hearing.

"I was astonished when I discovered this hadn't been done even though a statement by the FA on Teletext said that Dermot had been demoted."