FIFA has confirmed that they are investigating claims Douglas Ross broke strict neutrality rules by using their logo on Tory party leaflets.
If found guilty of breaching the governing body’s statutes, the part-time professional referee could face a ban from the sport.
FIFA’s rules states that they do not take a position “in matters of politics and religion.”
However, last month the Scottish Tories, in a bid to raise the profile of their new leader, sent every house in Scotland a “meet Douglas Ross” leaflet.
One page featured a picture of the Moray MP at his second job, working as a professional referee, wearing a shirt emblazoned with the FIFA badge.
The image of Ross was also used by the party for their campaign calling on the Scottish Government to create a “fans fighting fund”.
On Sunday we told how a member of the Scottish Football Supporters Association has now written to FIFA suggesting Ross’s use of the logo questions “the integrity of football”.
The fan – who’s asked not to be named – wrote: “I want FIFA to launch an investigation and deal with this matter as a matter of urgency, given that we are now in an election cycle in our country.
“This leaflet has been distributed by the political party that Mr Ross leads. It has been sent to households throughout Scotland and it clearly shows him using his image as a FIFA official to try and benefit himself and his organisation with this endorsement.”
On Monday morning, FIFA confirmed to The National that they were probing the allegation.
A spokesman said: “We are currently looking into the matter and have no further comment to make at this stage.”
A Scottish Tory spokesperson said: “Douglas will be happy to clarify matters with FIFA and is not aware of any concerns from the association.”
Keith Brown, the SNP's depute leader, said: "In his desperation for attention Douglas Ross has irked an awful lot of people.
"FIFA are absolutely right to have launched an investigation on the Scottish Tory boss - many people think he should be sanctioned for politicising the beautiful game this way.
"In May - at the most important election Scotland has ever had - voters have the opportunity to give Ross and Boris Johnson the red and vote to put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands by voting SNP."
Ross wouldn’t be the first politician to fall foul of the statutes.
In 1995 referee Kurt Rothlisberger was suspended for three months for giving unauthorised publicity to a political party.
Rothlisberger, who was campaigning for a seat in the Swiss National, was photographed in his official FIFA referee uniform, displaying the logo of his political party next to the FIFA emblem.
The disciplinary committee said Rothlisberger “had misused his position as a FIFA referee for political ends and thus contravened article 2 of the FIFA Statutes.”
Earlier this year Ross was forced to apologise to some of the last survivors of the Second World War after he snubbed a VJ Day anniversary in his constituency to run the line at a match between Kilmarnock and St Johnstone.
He donated his fee from the game – believed to be around £445 – to Help for Heroes.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel