Thomson appointed elite Euro ref

Thomson was in charge of last season's Scottish Cup final

Referee Craig Thomson has been promoted to the Elite group of European officials - the first Scot in seven years to do so.

The 37-year-old will now become a regular fixture in the top Champions League matches.

Willie Collum has also been promoted, the 30-year-old becoming the youngest inductee into this season's Premier Development League.

It is the third tier of Uefa's grading system for officials.

Earlier this week, Alan Muir became the first of the Scottish Fifa referees to receive an appointment for the new season from European football's governing body.

He will take charge of Thursday's Europa League first qualifying round, first leg match between Runavik, from the Faroe Islands, and Norwegians Rosenborg.

Dougie McDonald will referee the Champions League second qualifying round tie between Zrinjski and Slovan Bratislava on 14 or 15 July.

Charlie Richmond will be in charge of the Europa League qualifier between Differdange 03 v Rijeka on 16 July.

And Calum Murray is to be referee on the same night as Elfsborg face Haladas or Irtysh Pavlodar.

Meanwhile, John Beaton and Kevin Clancy have been promoted to Category One referees by the Scottish Football Association.

Both came from the junior football ranks and have been in charge of Scottish Premier League reserve matches.

Beaton was also in charge of last season's Scottish Junior Cup final.

This season, he and Clancy will take charge of Second and Third Division Matches and will be fourth officials in the First Division and SPL.