Leeds United manager Dennis Wise has accused the FA of a whitewash by failing to find referee Danny McDermid guilty of swearing at him.

Wise, backed by statements from four witnesses, reported McDermid after a 1-1 draw at Gillingham on September 29.

Leeds strikers Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol were sent off during the game and Wise was later fined £5,000 by the FA for using abusive and/or insulting language to the London-based official.

Now Wise claims the FA are applying one law for referees and another for managers and players.

The FA ruled at a hearing this week that the case against McDermid was "not proven" but Wise fumed: "It is unbelievable. I have read the statements from two stewards and two security guards who said the referee swore at me by telling me to f-off, so I am left trying to work out why that is not proven. It totally amazes me.

"Basically they have made a new rule that if a referee turns round and says he hasn't sworn at you, they will believe him and if a referee says you have sworn at him they'll believe him too. It seems they are going to take the word of the referee over anyone and that is disappointing.

"I did say during the hearing that I didn't want the man banned or crucified. I just wanted him to apologise for swearing at me because you can't have one ruling for them and another for us."

Wise added: "At an earlier hearing I ended up with a £5,000 fine but if I had said I never swore at the referee it would probably have been £10,000 because they would have said I was lying.

"I told them there is no understanding between a referee and a manager or between a referee and a player. It shouldn't be like that and it's also frustrating because you can't challenge the FA's decisions.

"I wish I could show people the statements I had in my hands from the witnesses but I wasn't allowed to keep them.

"Unfortunately they are locked away in a drawer at the FA."

Leeds could go top if they win at strugglers Cheltenham on Sunday and other results go their way today.

It would be a magnificent achievement after their 15-point deficit from the season's start but they are without goalkeeper Casper Ankergren, who suffered a gashed knee against Hereford in midweek.

David Lucas deputises, while David Prutton and Jonathan Douglas are back from suspension.

Tore Andre Flo, Alan Thompson and Rui Marques are in training and could return but Leon Constantine is expected to be out for a fortnight with a slightly cracked toe.