England's Football Association reiterated its desire to see goal-line technology introduced ''as soon as possible'' after Queens Park Rangers were denied a clear goal during a Premier League match against relegation rival Bolton on Saturday.
Video replays showed Clint Hill's header in the 20th minute crossed the line before Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan clawed the ball back into play. The score was 0-0 at the time and the game finished 2-1 to Bolton, a result that dropped QPR into the relegation zone.
The incident came a week after the International Football Association Board, the sport's rule-makers, approved two devices for a final round of testing in match scenarios before either can be sanctioned for competitive play.
''The FA has been a leading proponent of goal-line technology for many years,'' the governing body said in a statement released soon after the goal-line incident at the Bolton match.
''We will continue to press for its introduction once further independent testing is complete later this year, so that anyone wishing to introduce the technology is able to do so at the earliest possible opportunity.''
The Premier League has already said it will consider using goal-line technology in games starting next season in August if either Hawk-Eye or GoalRef is approved by IFAB when it meets July 2. For that to happen, the league's 20 stadiums would have six weeks to install the technology.
The FA, which is one of eight IFAB members, says that's not enough time but the Premier League is more optimistic.
The decision not to award the goal could have huge repercussions for QPR, which was leapfrogged by Bolton in the standings to leave the London club in the bottom three with 10 matches left.
Bogdan said it was a tough call to make for officials.
''I just tried to save the ball, and the referee didn't blow his whistle,'' Bogdan said. ''It's hard to make a decision because it's all so quick ... I wasn't sure if it was in or it wasn't.''
