Players feigning injury would face an automatic yellow card under proposals to be considered by the lawmakers of world soccer next Saturday. The International Board, which consists of the four football associations in the United Kingdom and world soccer's governing body FIFA, will consider the move at its annual meeting in Cardiff on February 20th.

"Under the proposed modifications, any simulating action anywhere on the field would be deemed unsporting behaviour and would be punished by a yellow card," FIFA said in a statement.

Many referees already punish players who fake injury with a booking. A FIFA spokesman said the proposed change would make the rules more stringent.

FIFA said the meeting would also look at experimenting with two referees, keeping the field of play free from virtual advertising, extending the responsibilities of the fourth official and an evaluation of experiments currently being conducted on the laws of the game.

They will also deal with goalline technology - a topical issue following an incident in the second half of England's match with world champions France at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

A Nicolas Anelka shot which television replays appeared to show had crossed the line after hitting the underside of the bar was not given as a goal in France's 2-0 win.

Several leading figures in the sport have spoken out recently in favour of having two referees on the pitch to keep up with the faster pace of modern soccer.

UEFA, European soccer's governing body, said last month it was keen to try out the idea.