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MSP condemned after missing meeting to officiate at UCL match

A Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament has been urged to resign after missing a parliamentary committee meeting to be a referee's assistant at a Champions League game on Tuesday.

Douglas Ross, the party's justice spokesman, missed a justice committee meeting to work at the match between Sporting Lisbon and Real Madrid.

Ross also serves as a councillor on Moray Council, and his midweek absence meant he also missed a meeting of its policy and resources committee.

SNP MSP Ben Macpherson accused him of "arrogance and blatant disrespect" and said he valued his refereeing work, which brings in around £40,000 per year, ahead of political duties.

"If Douglas Ross can't pitch up to do his job, it's time for relegation -- he should either take a step back from refereeing or stand down from Holyrood's justice committee with immediate effect," he said.

Ross did not respond to requests for a comment.

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