REFEREE Alan Wiley was today adamant that he made the correct decision in allowing David Beckham's controversial equaliser to stand in last night's 2-2 draw between Blackburn and Manchester United.

Beckham took a quick free-kick following the dismissal of Craig Short and chipped Rovers keeper Brad Friedel. who was off his line organising a defensive wall, to earn United a point.

Blackburn manager Souness questioned whether Short had actually walked off the pitch when Beckham took the kick, but this morning Wiley told Philip Don, who is in charge of the elite select group' of referees, that the Rovers centre-back had left the field.

Don told the Press Association: "I have spoken to the referee and his comment to David Beckham was 'you have to wait until Craig Short leaves the pitch'.

"And according to the referee Craig Short had actually left the pitch when David Beckham took the free-kick."

Souness had been critical of Staffordshire official Wiley saying: "All night the referee's been saying wait until I blow my whistle'. You have to say it was great play by David Beckham but it's inconsistency."

There have also been eyebrows raised over Ian Harte's quick free-kick which helped secure victory for Leeds at Arsenal on Tuesday night.

But Don is insistent there have been no changes to the rules, and that Harte's and Beckham's goals were both legitimate.