Sepp Blatter, FIFA's general secretary, wants to ban sliding tackles in an effort to make the game more attractive and protect skilful players from career-threatening injuries.

Blatter said yesterday that the game's top players had to be shielded from sliding tackles and other physical challenges.

"In the football of the future, we have to ban tackling, forbid all this sliding. We absolutely have to take out aggression, especially in games where a lot is at stake," he added.

"It can't be right that players like Marco van Basten or Rudi Voeller or Ronaldo are booted to bits. It's exactly those players that the fans want to see."

Blatter said FIFA had already urged such a change to soccer's rule-making body, the International Board. A meeting is due to take place next week when the agenda for the board's next meeting in March 1998 will be set.

"The first time it was mentioned there were some disapproving coughs. The second time we did get round to discussing it, and the next time, in March 1998, the matter will be debated in full," said Blatter.

The idea was met with derision by Germany's national team coach Berti Vogts, a former defender who was nicknamed "The Terrier" in his playing days for the way he used to snap at opponents' heels.

"One-on-one challenges are part of football, Neither (German international defender) Juergen Kohler nor I have ever ended the career of a striker," Vogts said.

Blatter also said world chiefs wanted to extend the rule which bans a goalkeeper from receiving the ball from one of his own players to include headed back-passes. He said things could move quickly on a rule change and players may even have to adapt to a new law at next year's World Cup finals in France.

In another move, Blatter said FIFA wanted "between now and the year 2000" to introduce professional referees in league football worldwide.

"The referee is an integral part of the game and his role is as important as that of the player or coach, he's not an amateur sent by God," Blatter said.