UEFA yesterday vowed to maintain their `three plus two rule' on foreign player limits in their club competitions this season, despite a European Court ruling against the system.

Under UEFA rules, clubs can only field three foreign players plus two `assimilated' foreigners (ones who has lived in the country for five years or who have played in the club's youth team.

Major clubs are likely to be furious at the ruling, since they believe that in the wake of the Bosman ruling by the European Court of Justice, they should be able to field as many foreign European Union nationals as they wish. UEFA's stance could lead to further court cases before the European cup competitions resume in March.