UEFA have announced that the experiment using two extra match officials, first trialled in last season's Europa League, is to be extended next season to the Champions League and qualifying games for the 2012 European Championship.

The five-referee system garnered mixed reviews in its trials in Europe's second competition last season, but had already been extended for another two years before Thursday's announcement.

The extra officials will first appear in the playoff round of the Champions League, which will be played in August. Domestic football associations are also free to import the system into their own competitions.

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