Ref Brines dumped as Fifa nominee

Iain Brines has been dropped by the Scottish FA from this year's nominations for the Fifa list of referees, BBC Sport has learned.

The decision was taken by the SFA referees committee, which makes nominations to football's governing body for consideration later this year.

Two first-time nominees are Euan Norris and Alan Muir, who are in their second year in charge of games in the SPL.

Drew Herbertson, SFA head of discipline, declined to comment.

Brines has come in for criticism for his displays this year, in particular for disallowing an apparently good Aberdeen goal at Celtic Park in April.

This season, John Hughes accused the referee of unfair treatment after Brines reprimanded the Falkirk head coach for entering his team's dressing-room while serving a touchline ban.

In the same match, a goal by Celtic captain Stephen McManus, scored with his arm, was allowed to stand.

The 41-year-old official has been on the Fifa list since 2003 and took charge of his first international match in 2004 between the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria.

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