It is time up, the whistle has blown, and Craig Thomson has been left stranded without a place at the World Cup finals.

The Scottish referee was omitted from the list of officials for this summer's showpiece in Brazil, after the 52-man long-list was reduced down to 25 contenders yesterday.

The 41-year-old oversaw two matches at Euro 2012, and his exclusion means that his assistants Alasdair Ross and Derek Rose will also miss out.

England, however, will be represented again by Howard Webb, who took charge of the final four years ago.