This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41773971
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Referee Tory MP Douglas Ross to miss World Cup | Referee Tory MP Douglas Ross to miss World Cup |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Scottish Tory MP Douglas Ross has told football authorities he will no longer accept refereeing appointments when Parliament is sitting. | Scottish Tory MP Douglas Ross has told football authorities he will no longer accept refereeing appointments when Parliament is sitting. |
| It means he will not be in the running to officiate at next summer's World Cup in Russia. | It means he will not be in the running to officiate at next summer's World Cup in Russia. |
| Mr Ross was criticised for missing a debate on Universal Credit to run the line at a Champions League match. | Mr Ross was criticised for missing a debate on Universal Credit to run the line at a Champions League match. |
| He defended that decision in a letter to constituents saying he knew he would not be able to speak in the debate. | He defended that decision in a letter to constituents saying he knew he would not be able to speak in the debate. |
| Mr Ross told BBC Scotland that he had made "difficult, personal decision" on his job in football, but said his "number one priority was standing up for the people of Moray". | |
| 'Ticked off' | |
| The MP, who has been a referee for 15 years and was first elected a Moray councillor 10 years ago, said he had not been prepared for the level of criticism he received for missing the debate earlier this month. | |
| Mr Ross was in Spain for the Barcelona v Olympiakos game on the same day as the Universal Credit debate was held at Westminster. | |
| Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to defend him after SNP MP John McNally raised the issue by brandishing a red card across the chamber. | Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to defend him after SNP MP John McNally raised the issue by brandishing a red card across the chamber. |
| Mr Ross said: "I don't need to be ticked off by anyone to know that you don't want to be on the prime minister's radar for reasons such as this. | |
| "You want to be on the prime minister's, anyone's, radar for good reasons." | |
| Mr Ross said SNP campaign leaflets accusing him of putting football before parliamentary work had meant constituents were aware that refereeing was a big part of his life. | |
| But he added that before the election he gave a commitment not to allow his football job to impact on his parliamentary duties. | |
| He said: "I only have one priority which is to stand up for the people of Moray. | |
| "I had given a commitment to the people of Moray and I hope this sends a signal that I was genuine about that." | |
| Mr Ross, a former MSP, was also criticised in November last year for missing a Scottish Parliament committee meeting to run the line in a Champions League match in Portugal. | Mr Ross, a former MSP, was also criticised in November last year for missing a Scottish Parliament committee meeting to run the line in a Champions League match in Portugal. |
| It led to calls for him to stand down from his frontbench role as the Scottish Conservatives' justice spokesman. | It led to calls for him to stand down from his frontbench role as the Scottish Conservatives' justice spokesman. |
| Mr Ross later went on to defeat the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson at the general election in June. | Mr Ross later went on to defeat the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson at the general election in June. |
| Earlier, in a statement given to online community newspaper Inside Moray, the Moray MP said he recognised he could no longer balance his football job with his political one. |