Douglas Ross has agreed to step down from international appointments.
The Tory MP recently came in for criticism after missing a Parliamentary vote on Welfare in order to be the linesman at a Barcelona Champions League match.
It had been suggested that Ross would step down from football commitments after next summer’s World Cup Finals in Russia.
Ross was assistant to Willie Collum at the Nou Camp and it was believed that ‘Team Collum’ were in the running to be appointed for the World Cup Finals.
The emphasis was on the team element with Collum’s appointment based on a six man team consisting of two assistant referees, two additional assistants and a fourth official on the touchline.
With Ross stepping down from international commitments the SFA will now have to draft in a new assistant which will damage Collum’s chances of getting to Russia next summer.
Explaining his decision to Inside Moray Ross said: “This week I have taken the decision to inform the football authorities that I will no longer be able to accept any appointments when Parliament is sitting.
“The consequence of this decision means that I can no longer do the majority of International matches and my hopes of representing Scotland, and most importantly for me, Moray, at a World Cup, now end.
“As a referee, just like a player, whenever I pull on my international kit I have a huge sense of pride in representing my country at some of the top matches across the World. But as MP for Moray I gave a commitment to the people who elected me that I would always act in their best interests which is why I have taken this decision.”
