Platini pleased with extra linesmen trials

BERNE, Switzerland: UEFA president Michel Platini was impressed with the first official trials deploying additional linesmen, his special adviser William Gaillard told media on Monday.

Platini attended a European under-19 championship qualifying tournament in Slovenia at the weekend to see the first competitive test involving two extra linesmen monitoring the penalty areas at each end of the pitch.

The head of European soccer's governing body believes the two additional officials can help alert referees to fouls in the area or diving incidents while avoiding the need to introduce potentially disruptive video replays.