Farce descended into fiasco as the Football Association were forced to review James Beattie's place in the England squad due to a drink-drive conviction - just hours after he had replaced Alan Smith.

Smith was called up as a replacement for Darius Vassell on Thursday, only for the FA to throw him out of the squad after learning of his arrest earlier in the day.

They were then even forced into emergency talks over Beattie's place soon after calling him up, but resolved to keep him in the squad as they were ''not looking retrospectively at cases''.

It nevertheless added up to another embarrassing day for the FA and, especially, chief executive Mark Palios, who was forced into a series of startling admissions:

l That he had no idea about Beattie's past drink-drive conviction and did not even know about the striker's England call-up.

l That there was ''unacceptable'' and ''complete ignorance'' at the FA about Nicky Butt's arrest for alleged assault earlier this year or the subsequent end of the case.

l That the policy of whether players should be available for England squads was effectively being made up as the FA went along on an ''ad-hoc'' basis.

l That it took until 6pm on Thursday for anyone to tell Palios about the astonishing communication breakdown which ensured that Smith was called up to the squad on the same day he was arrested.

Indeed, such was Palios' discomfort at a press briefing that the anger of the England players at Smith's exclusion a month after Rio Ferdinand was similarly omitted became almost a side-issue.

Instead, Palios was forced not only to deny his position was under threat just four months into the job, but also to defend his decision to ban Smith - while Beattie was then called into the squad.

Smith was released on police bail on Thursday after a pre-arranged police interview over claims that he threw a plastic bottle into the crowd in Leeds' Carling Cup tie against Manchester United.

''I think the perception of what's best in the long-term interests of the game is that anybody in Alan Smith's position should not have worn an England shirt,'' argued Palios, who had consulted the FA's international committee.

He then revealed that a full-scale review of whether players should be banned after they had been charged or arrested would now be taking place.

He also insisted that Butt would have been banned for four months - including the England qualifier in Turkey - while he went through the police investigation into allegations of assault.

However, Palios was still startled to learn that Beattie had been sentenced to 100 hours' community service and a 30-month driving ban after being convicted of drink-driving last year.

The FA chief executive, who has been let down by those briefing him in the past 24 hours, admitted: ''I wasn't aware that he'd been called up to the squad at this moment in the time, to be honest.''

Palios added: ''I'd rather be able to think and understand the details of that, and get to the facts of the matter.

''I will consult with the international committee rather than make a decision here and now.''

When asked to compare drink-driving with throwing a plastic bottle, Palios nevertheless admitted: ''Clearly, the potential to do damage is greater if you drink-drive.''

That review hastily took place immediately after the Press briefing, before an FA statement was then released. It read: ''The case of Alan Smith is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, while the case of James Beattie has been disposed of by a court.

''We know the outcome of James Beattie's case and he's been punished under the laws of the land, while we don't know the outcome of Alan Smith's case and he's on police bail.

''We are not looking retrospectively at cases of alleged offences involving England players. We must judge each new case on its merits while establishing a new policy based on our review.''

Beattie, meanwhile, was unaware that he was about to become enveloped in the latest controversy to engulf the England squad when he joined up with the squad.

The Southampton forward, whose Euro 2004 hopes were damaged by his earlier exclusion from the squad on the grounds of ability, told of his reprieve: ''I'm not bitter, I'm pleased.

''It's a case of better late than never. Of course I'd have liked to have been in the squad from the start, but I see it as a great opportunity for myself.''

''Some might say it's a bit of luck - but you can't turn these things down. I've got to do my job and try and get some credit out of it.''

He was nevertheless arriving into a squad which had again been riled by the FA's treatment of Smith just a month after they had threatened to strike over Ferdinand's exclusion.

Palios admitted: ''The players are angry in terms of their perception of the Alan Smith affair and we are meeting them tonight to discuss it.

''But that does not necessarily translate into irresponsible behaviour or a threat to strike, and I've been pleased with the way that the senior England players have conducted themselves.'