FA 'keen to explore' technology

The Football Association admit they are "very keen to explore" goal-line technology after the failure of officials to award David Healy a late equaliser during Fulham's defeat by Middlesbrough.

Healy appeared to have rescued a point when Boro keeper Mark Schwarzer failed to hold the striker's injury-time shot with replays showing the ball had clearly crossed the line. However, referee Andy D'Urso and linesman Ian Gosling refused to award the effort which left Cottagers boss Lawrie Sanchez furious as the home side went down to a 2-1 defeat.

A spokesman said: "We understand the debate around goal-line technology. FIFA rules clearly state that a referee must take decisions based on what he sees on the field of play and cannot refer to video replays at any time during the game. However, there have been experiments with goal-line technology which sends an instant signal to the referee telling him whether the ball is over the line, without using video replays, and there is currently a trial going on at Reading."

The spokesman added: "It would need FIFA's approval before it could be introduced more widely but it is something we are very keen to explore fully."

There was a similar incident in the game involving Southampton and Norwich with Saints boss George Burley convinced that Andrew Surman's shot, which was fumbled by David Marshall, had crossed the line when the City keeper finally got his hands on the ball.

The Saints were leading 1-0 at the time but eventually went down to a 2-1 defeat and led Burley to call for technology in such instances.

Now the FA claim they are keen to explore the full implications of introducing technology.