Adrian Boothroyd has urged the FA to introduce goalline technology as soon as possible to avoid a repeat of the shambolic scenes last weekend when Reading were awarded a goal instead of a corner. The Watford manager asked the FA to act on the same day that he was charged by the governing body with using abusive and insulting language towards Stuart Attwell, the 25-year-old referee who made the mistake. Attwell awarded a goal after consulting one of his assistants, Nigel Bannister, even though the ball missed the post by at least a yard during the 2-2 draw in the Coca-Cola Championship.

“I’m an advocate of goalline technology.” Boothroyd said. “It doesn’t have to stop the game for too long. If sports like cricket and rugby can take it on, then I think that we should.”

The FA is in favour of introducing cameras or sensors to decide whether the ball has crossed the line and the Premier League is conducting an experiment this season, sanctioned by Fifa, to examine whether an efficient system exists.

The FA is sympathetic to Boothroyd’s views about technology, but the manager is felt to have overstepped the mark when he abused Attwell at Vicarage Road last Saturday. Boothroyd reacted angrily when Attwell awarded the ghost goal in the thirteenth minute but he was not sent to the stands until the second half, when he swore at the official after a mix-up during a throw-in.

Boothroyd has accepted privately that he went too far and the FA has charged him reluctantly after studying the referees’ report. The governing body does not want to be seen to be picking on Watford but Boothroyd’s reported comments were so abusive that it had to act. Boothroyd has until October 10 to respond to the charge but he is expected to be treated leniently if he pleads guilty.

Attwell was replaced by Mike Dean for Wednesday’s Carling Cup match between Ipswich Town and Wigan Athletic but he will be the fourth official for Middlesbrough’s game against West Bromwich Albion at the Riverside tomorrow. Bannister is likely to be rested from high-profile matches for a time and he has not been given a match this weekend.

Senior officials at Watford are disappointed that Boothroyd has been charged when the officials appear to have escaped serious censure. A statement on Watford’s website noted yesterday that Attwell has not been punished for his mistake, but the club agree with the Football League’s decision not to replay the game. “A lot has been written but I don’t think there should be a replay,” Boothroyd said. “We’ll take it on the chin.”

Watford’s match away to Sheffield United tomorrow will be refereed by Mark Halsey, who controversially dismissed John Terry during Chelsea’s 3-1 win away to Manchester City two weeks ago. Terry appealed successfully against the red card and Halsey was demoted to refereeing the 1-1 draw between Chester City and Shrewsbury Town last Sunday.