Six Scottish officials confirmed for Euro 2012
Last updated on .From the section Football
Uefa has confirmed the six-man team of Scottish officials for this summer's Euro 2012 finals.
Craig Thomson was already named as one of the 12-strong team of referees for the tournament in Ukraine and Poland.
And he will be joined by assistant referees Alasdair Ross and Derek Rose.
Willie Collum and Euan Norris will be behind the goals as additional assistant referees, while Graham Chambers completes the line-up as standby assistant referee.
Thomson was the lone Scot at Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, as a fourth official, and the Category One referee is delighted that he will have his own Scottish team in tow.
"While there is an important run-in to the domestic season to focus on, it is great news for the guys who have been selected," he said.
"The selection process is very thorough and is based on performance and fitness results that are sent to Uefa.
"I am disappointed for the guys who were shortlisted who didn't make it and, in that regard, it is like a football team - not everyone can be picked, but it is important that Scottish referees are being acknowledged at the highest level."
All of the match officials selected have had experience of the latter stages of the Champions League and Europa League knockout stages this season.
Indeed, this month, Thomson was the centre of controversy after awarding a penalty against Schalke in their Europa League tie against Twente and showing a red card to Joel Matip, who won his appeal against the award.
The team of officials will also be used together domestically to ensure maximum understanding prior to the finals.
"The work effectively started when I received notification of my appointment and the guys were shortlisted," said Thomson.
"We started training together, meeting with the sports psychologist, John Mathers, as a team and the same for the technical debriefs and video analysis work we do.
"It is very different to going to Euro 2008 on my own as fourth official. I was on my own at the Under-21 European Championships too.
"But having the guys out together gives you that support network that is vital, not just for the referee but for every member.
"We all have individual roles and responsibilities - and they are all first-class referees in their own right - but the team understanding is hugely important."
