Ref James Linington (yellow) orders Besian Idrizaj (far left) back on the pitch

Referee James Linington has been backed over Swansea's Carling Cup defeat to Scunthorpe which faced being abandoned.

Swansea were reduced to six players when Besian Idrizaj went off injured but Linnington is accused of forcing the Austrian back onto the pitch.

He had already sent three Swans players off while Stephen Dobbie had gone off injured with no substitutions left.

A Football Association spokesman said they were "satisfied" with Linington's performance after reading his report.

"The referee advised [Swansea manager] Paulo Sousa for the injured player to return to the field so the game could be concluded," said the spokesman.

"The Swansea management could have refused to send the player back on but it was in the best interests of everyone involved in the game for it to have a conclusion.

"Discussing what punishment Swansea would have faced if they did not comply with the referee's advice and any subsequent abandonment would be hypothetical because the player returned to the field.

Swansea City 1-2 Scunthorpe United (aet)

"But should the game have been abandoned, there would clearly have been an investigation."

Monk was sent off five minutes from the end of normal time for an alleged head-butt on Scunthorpe's Michael O'Connor, which was spotted by assistant referee Richard Martin.

Dobbie left the field after receiving a boot in his ribs by Josh Wright, who went unpunished, before Gorka Pintado received his marching orders with a second yellow in the second half of extra time.

Two minutes later, Rangel followed for an alleged elbow on Matthew Sparrow.

New signing Idrizaj suffered a knee injury in the closing stages of extra time and Sousa accused Linington of forcing the player back on.

Isle of Wight official Linington needed a police escort away from the Liberty Stadium after the match.

Swansea will escape an automatic fine as only five individual players received cards. Six players would have triggered a statutory £5,000 by the Football League.

They will not appeal against the two straight red cards as the time to appeal has expired, while they cannot appeal Pintado's two yellow cards.

But if they want to make a formal complaint about Linington they have to submit a written submission to the English FA who will then send it to the FA of Wales.

Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins said: "If everbody looks back at that game, I would like to think everybody concerned would have dealt with things differently."

Asked if any complaint would be made over Linington's performance, he said: "At this stage, I doubt it."

Swansea are already facing an FA charge for failing to control their players in last Tuesday's 0-0 Championship draw with Reading at the Liberty Stadium.

The loss of five players from their Carling Cup exit has left Sousa with a selection headache for Saturday's visit of Watford.

He was already missing injured defenders Albert Serran and Fede Bessone, midfielders Ferrie Bodde, Darren Pratley, Joe Allen and Tom Butler and striker Guillem Bauza.

Sousa had wanted to bring in a striker, defender and midfielder before next week's transfer deadline and this may push him to up his search.

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