Top coaches meet at Uefa HQ

Europe's leading coaches are in favour of the experiment with two extra officials behind the goals and prefer it to the use of goal-line technology, says Uefa.

However, they are less enthusiastic about changing the away goals rule used in European club competition, even though some feel it encourages teams to play defensively at home rather than attack when they are away.

The new refereeing system, which features one extra linesman behind each goal, was first tried in the Europa League last season and has been extended to the Champions League and the Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Uefa president Michel Platini is one of the most vocal supporters of the experiment which is being carried out in other competitions worldwide over the next two years before Fifa decides whether to implement it on a permanent basis.

"They're very positive about this experiment," Uefa's technical director Andy Roxburgh told reporters after a two-day meeting of some of Europe's leading coaches at Uefa headquarters including Pep Guardiola, Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho.

"They're very much aware of the problems of going down the technology route and, like Platini, they would like to keep it human if possible, so this experiment with the additional referees allows us to do that."