Board abolishes golden, silver goals, limits friendly subs to six

World football's rule-making International Board decided to abolish the use of the golden or silver goal rules to settle drawn matches in favour of a return to the classic formula of extra-time followed by penalties from next season.

The Board also decided that national teams will be allowed to make no more than six substitutions in friendlies.

The new rules for deciding drawn matches will not come into force in time for the Euro 2004 championships in Portugal this summer but it will mean changes for knockout matches in the Champions League next season.

Euro 2000 was decided by David Trezeguet's golden goal for France in extra-time against Italy. Under the golden goal system, play stops immediately if a team scores in extra-time.

Under the silver goal system, now used in the Champions League, UEFA Cup and European Championships, if a team scores play continues until the end of that period of extra time giving the opposing team a chance to come back.

The move on substitutes was instigated by FIFA's powerful president, Sepp Blatter, who has been highly critical of managers making wholescale changes to their line-ups, arguing that this makes a farce of international matches.

Blatter had initially proposed a limit of five subs but was forced to compromise in view of opposition from coaches including England's Sven-Goran Eriksson who wanted to continue without any limits.

In a friendly against Portugal earlier this month, Eriksson made nine substitutions but still found himself outdone by his opposite number Luis Felipe Scolari, who changed every one of his side's outfield players during the 1-1 draw in Faro.

The International Board which approved the rule changes is made up of the representatives from the four British football associations and four from FIFA. Proposals need the backing of six of the eight members of the committee to be adopted.

The Board also agreed to introduce automatic bookings for players who rip off their shirts in goal celebrations but rejected a proposal to increase the half-time break from 15 to 20 minutes.

The latter move, put forward by the German FA, was aimed at allowing more time for the sale of drinks and food inside stadia as well as for television advertising.