Beckham rails against red card

Captain David Beckham said he was unfairly sent off in England's 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Austria on Saturday.

Beckham, who was sent off against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup, was dismissed after 60 minutes of the Group Six game for two fouls on Andreas Ibertsberger within two minutes.

He became the first England player to be sent off twice, though he would already have been suspended for the final qualifier against Poland on Wednesday after his first yellow card.

The first was for a raised elbow while video replays suggested Ibertsberger had dived under Beckham's challenge for the second yellow card - something which the Austrian denied.

"I didn't think the sending off was fair, that's for everyone else to judge though," Beckham said. "I thought the first yellow card was harsh and the second one was harsher."

Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo had also sent Beckham off while playing for Real Madrid.

"In Spain, though, you can't jump with your arms up and you're not allowed to tackle above the knee and all three officials were Spanish today.

"But the team played well with 10 men, showed some great character and this is what this team is all about. We got the result in the end. We got the three points."

Asked if he would like the Football Association to appeal against the sending off, he said: "I would like to think they would. I would be very disappointed to miss the Poland match."

ERIKSSON'S BACKING

Beckham had the full backing of England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and even Ibertsberger and Austria coach Willi Ruttensteiner over the dismissal.

Asked about Beckham becoming England's first player to be red-carded twice, Eriksson countered: "There are very few players who have 85 caps as well.

"Of course, it's not a record he's proud of. But today I don't think he should have been sent off. The referee thought otherwise so there's nothing to discuss.

"I think he was unlucky on both occasions. Even if he had his arm up when he jumped on the first occasion I don't think that was a yellow card."

As for an appeal, the Swede added: "I really don't know if it's possible. But if it's a possibility then maybe...you could do it."

Ibertsberger said: "I don't think the first tackle was a yellow card, it was normal. He just touched me a little bit, but it wasn't a yellow card."

Denying any involvement in the second card, the Austrian added: "The second one was his fault, his mistake. I didn't over-react, I couldn't run properly."

Ruttensteiner said: "I don't think it was a correct decision to send Beckham off."

England have had nine players dismissed in their international history which dates back to 1872.

It was also second time unlucky for Beckham with the same Spanish referee. He had also sent him off for Real in their King's Cup quarter-final against Valencia in January 2004 -- also for two yellow cards.