Scottish ref Willie Collum to officiate at Euro 2016
Wednesday 16 December 2015 15:29, UK
Even though the national team has once again failed to qualify for a major international tournament finals, Scotland will be represented at the Euro 2016 Championships in Paris.
Only it won't be by Gordon Strachan, Scott Brown and company, but Scottish FA referee Willie Collum.
The former teacher is one of 18 officials selected by UEFA to take control of ties during next summer's football showpiece, with England's Mark Clattenburg and Martin Atkinson also chosen.
Speaking to Sky Sports News HQ, Collum said: "It's the highlight of my refereeing career without a doubt."
"In refereeing terms it's as close as can be to representing your country at football. So a Scotland player representing his country at a major tournament, it's the same for me as a referee to represent my country at a major tournament.
"It's like a Christmas present to me. So I'll be looking forward to whatever match I'm appointed to, whether it be as a referee or a fourth official."
Collum has taken charge of a number UEFA Champions League matches in recent seasons and has refereed in Scotland's top flight over the last 10 campaigns. Earlier this year he officiated the European Super Cup between Barcelona and Sevilla.
Despite constantly being placed in the company of the world's top referees, Collum has received his fair share of criticism from within Scotland for his performances.
In a post-match interview in August, Hearts head coach Robbie Neilson said he prepared his side for a match with 10 men because he claimed he knew Collum would send one of his players off. Callum Paterson's straight red card against Hamilton Accies was reduced to a yellow on appeal later that week.
But the 36-year-old has faith in his ability and professes criticism 'is like water off a duck's back" for him now.
He said: "We accept that and accept the criticism. Sometimes it can be a bit over the top but be assured that to be selected for a finals tournament you have to be performing."
"There are many better referees than me who have never been to a final tournament. So it's no mean feat to get there. It's a great success and achievement and it's been a lot of hard work."
"It's not been confirmed yet but the good thing is for Scottish refereeing is four of my colleagues will be with me, which is great. We'll be delighted to have more than one Scottish representative at Euro 2016."
"It would have been great to see the national team there and also for the referees there might have been an opportunity to go and watch the national team at a major tournament. I would have liked to have seen Scotland there and the chance to watch them."
All participating officials will go through a number of courses and training activities before the tournament, with assistants having their first meeting in Cyprus in January.
UEFA's annual winter course, involving all UEFA Elite Group referees, takes place from February 1-5, where they will be given physical plans to follow until the summer tournament in France.
UEFA will also host a preparatory Euro 2016 course in France from April 18-22, where the selected refereeing teams will train together and have thorough fitness tests.
Euro 2016 referees list: Martin Atkinson (England), Felix Brych (Germany), Cuneyt Cakir (Turkey), Mark Clattenburg (England), Willie Collum (Scotland), Jonas Eriksson (Sweden), Ovidiu Hategan (Romania), Sergey Karasev (Russia), Viktor Kassai (Hungary), Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic), Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands), Szymon Marciniak (Poland), Milorad Mazic (Serbia), Svein Moen (Norway), Nicola Rizzoli (Italy), Damir Skomina (Slovenia), Clement Turpin (France), Carlos Velasco Carballo (Spain)
