By Harry Pratt ENGLAND captain Alan Shearer has been warned he faces the shame of being sent off at the World Cup Finals unless he can curb the aggression that prompted his late lunge on England teammate Tony Adams during Saturday's FA Cup Final defeat. The Newcastle striker escaped with a yellow card from referee Paul Durkin - England's representative among the France 98 officials after a rash and unnecessary challenge on Arsenal skipper Adams near the end of the first half. Durkin, at England's Bisham Abbey training camp this week to advise Glenn Hoddle's squad on FIFA's latest strict interpretation of the rules, says that a challenge like that will almost certainly lead to an early bath if it is repeated next month. The tackle from behind - even if the ball is won cleanly - will effectively be outlawed under the new guidelines. Matters such as dissent, ensuring defensive walls are back ten yards, allowing quick free-kicks and cracking down on elaborate off-the-pitch goal celebrations are also on the FIFA agenda, starting at this summer's showpiece event. Durkin is on hand to explain to Hoddle's men what will be acceptable at France 98 and what will bring cautions or dismissals. "I had a split-second to make a decision on Shearer's challenge and there was no doubt in my mind that it was a yellow card offence," admitted the Dorset official. "But if it happened in the World Cup, I would agree with people who suggest that the tackle might have been bordering on the red card. "People have got to realise that from the World Cup on there will be a re-interpretation of the law regarding the tackle from behind and reckless challenges, he added. ''FIFA are trying to look after the skilful players. Players have got to realise that their judgement is going to have to be absolutely spot on. Some of the challenges we have predominantly given yellow cards for will now be deemed as serious foul play and it will be demanded of us that we give red cards. FIFA have shown us a video of a PSV Eindhoven player who came cleanly through with one leg from behind to take the ball away cleanly, but with the other leg took away the legs of his opponent. That will now be a red card offence. It is in the best interest of the players to learn and listen, Durkin continued. ''I don't think they will take long to learn. They need to readjust from a lunging type of tackle and stay on their feet a little bit more. I've said to them that it might be the team with the best disciplinary record, the ones which avoid having players sent off and suspended, who might well win the tournament. I've not spoken to Alan Shearer about the FA Cup challenge - but if I am asked, I will have a word." PREMIERSHIP referee Dermot Gallagher will accompany the England party to their pre-tournament training camp in Spain to continue the teach-in. An FA spokesman said: Dermot will be joining us, at Glenn Hoddle's request, as we believe his input will be valuable at this stage of the team's preparations.

GEMMILL JNR SET FOR FRANCE?   SCOTT GEMMILL is hoping to emulate his father Archie by appearing in a World Cup, but knows he will surely never equal his father's career highpoint. Scott was only seven when his dad scored one of the most memorable World Cup goals of all time, in the 1978 finals in Argentina. His jinking, mazy run took him past several Dutch defenders before he scored and briefly gave Scotland hope of reaching the second round. It wasn't to be but, 20 years later, that goal still provides inspiration. Now, after suffering the disappointment of not playing in Euro 96, the Nottingham Forest midfielder wants to join a select band of fathers and sons who have played in a World Cup. And Scott is looking to cap promotion with Forest by cementing a regular place in the team in friendlies against Colombia and the USA in America. He said: My dad has become a Scotland legend because of that goal and rightly so. I am proud of what he achieved and I know he is proud that I have been called up into the squad. It is a big step up for me and an enormous privilege to join some of the finest names in the game. I don't know if I can become a legend. Getting a game in the finals would be a start. I was in the squad for Euro 96 but didn't play and that was disappointing. But I feel as though I have made a lot of progress since then and we've had a great season at Forest which has helped my confidence. We were all down at the beginning after being relegated but it is wonderful to be back in the Premiership. Now I can look forward to the summer and getting into the Scotland squad at this time has got to be the pinnacle of my career. Gemmill will be using these two matches to fight for the one remaining midfield slot alongside automatic choices Paul Lambert, John Collins and Craig Burley. Manager Craig Brown defended the long, hot trip, saying: It will enable the players to acclimatise to the heat and humidity before we go to France. All the squad are very enthusiastic despite a long hard season - you don't need much motivation when you are preparing to face Brazil. SCOTLAND and Northern Ireland drew 1-1 last night in the triangular Under-21 tournament that also includes the Republic of Ireland. St Johnstone's Stuart McCluskey put the Scots ahead with a low shot from a corner in the 21st minute but Phil Mulryne headed the equaliser seven minutes later.

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