Colchester United defender David Greene is ready to call in the Professional Footballers Association if he is forced to serve a three-match ban and pay a club fine of two weeks' wages.

And there were calls from irate U's supporters yesterday to flood the bungling Football Association with letters of protest after they amazingly granted Gillingham striker Carl Asaba a complete reprieve from his four-match ban after he was sent-off in the same incident.

The FA's decision also meant Asaba escaped paying a similar two weeks wages fine.

U's centre-back Greene and Asaba were dismissed following a first half off the ball incident during the 1-1 Division Two draw at Priestfield two weeks ago.

Greene is both angered and frustrated by the FA's findings which they arrived at last Thursday afternoon despite a lack of TV or video evidence and against overwhelming evidence of match referee John Kirkby and the referee's assistant nearest the incident.

And while the U's player started his ban at Wycombe on Saturday, Asaba was clear to play in Gillingham's 1-1 draw with promotion rivals Preston.

"The whole thing makes me feel sick," said Greene.

"I am being made to look like the sole aggressor and I welcome all the support I can get to clear my name even though it's too late to prevent my ban. In view of the fact that there is no TV or video evidence I was ready to take my punishment along with Asaba.

"I can't believe he has been let off, especially as everyone I've spoken to says he made the initial lunge at me."

Greene has the full support of U's boss Mick Wadsworth who claimed: "The FA have set a dangerous precedent in letting Asaba off. In our view he was the aggressor and both the linesman's and the referee's evidence was damning.

"In taking the action they have, the FA may have opened the floodgates for every home team to gather as many witnesses as they can to fight a similar case in the event of no video evidence being available."

Gillingham were reported to have taken 13 witnesses to the FA hearing including the club doctor, chaplin and two police officers. The FA were also flooded out by 300 letters from fans.

Colchester fans wishing to express their feelings to the FA should write to The Football Association, 16 Lancaster Gate, London, W2 3LW.

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