FIFA has decided to keep the rule - despite opposition from some quarters of UEFA - that means which ever team scores first in extra-time immediately wins the match.

That is the way the past two European Championships have been settled. Germany beat the Czech Republic in Euro 96, courtesy of a dubious Oliver Bierhoff goal, and France beat Italy in the Euro 2000 final thanks to a David Trezeguet strike.

But leading technical advisors from European footballs governing body - including Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier, former Blackburn and Inter Milan manager Roy Hodgson and former Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh - want the rule scrapped ahead of the World Cup 2002 in Japan and Korea.

They believe the 'Golden Goal' rule has increased the burden on already pressurized referees, that the team who concede the goal should be given a chance to fight back, and that it can lead to conflict between players and supporters.

The proposal to abolish the 'Golden Goal' will now be discussed by UEFA before an official move is made in FIFA's direction. But it is unlikely that footballs world governing body will change anything.

'We have no plans to change it. It is perfectly clear there is no ideal solution to this problem, but what's the alternative? Is a penalty shootout really better than that?,' said Keith Cooper, FIFA's communications director.

Outcomes such as Zinedine Zidane's penalty that gave France victory over Portugal in their Euro 2000 semi-final and Germany's 1996 'offside' goal that has led to UEFA's thinking.

The criticisms are revealed in UEFA's Euro 2000 Technical Report which says: 'In 1996 the winning goal was controversial and the game finished in mayhem the German substitutes were on the field celebrating while the referee discussed the contentious offside situation with his touchline assistant.

'During Euro 2000, the semi-final between France and Portugal ended in an unsavoury manner. When players and officials became embroiled in a heated exchange, it took the shine off a thrilling match.'