Boothroyd charged over referee anger

Updated 14.41 Thu Sep 25 2008

Keywords: phantom goal, nigel bannister, stuart attwell, aidy boothroyd, reading, watford, football, championship, sport

Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd has been charged with using abusive or foul language towards the referee that awarded Reading a 'phantom goal'.

Boothroyd was sent to the stands after losing his temper with referee Stuart Attwell, who had given Reading a goal on the advice of linesman Nigel Bannister even though the ball had not entered the net.

"I have never seen anything like it" - Aidy Boothroyd

The Championship match ended 2-2, but Boothroyd was clearly unhappy after the game.

He said: "I've never seen anything like it. It's like a UFO landing, a mistake like that. I've been to see the referee and in fairness he's only going on what the linesman says. He's working in a team and if someone comes in his ear telling him it's a goal then I suppose he's got to give it.

"I thought it was a goal-kick. What do you say to that? It was a strange sort of feeling because I was trying to calm my team down and get them going but all I could think was 'what was that for?'."

Boothroyd has until October 10 to respond to the charge.