The International Cricket Council has confirmed Darrell Hair will not umpire in any further international matches.
Hair's position had been the subject of debate since he penalised Pakistan for ball-tampering in the controversial Oval Test against England in August.
The Australian's contract as an elite umpire runs until March 2008, but he will not be offered a new one.
And between now and then, the ICC will not ask him to officiate in any matches between Test-playing nations.
Whether or not Hair, 54, is paid his full salary for 17 months is an issue that remains in the hands of lawyers.
ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said: "I had hoped we could find a way for Darrell to continue umpiring at the top level.
"It was clear from discussions that the ICC board had lost confidence in Mr Hair"
"But the ICC executive board didn't wish to appoint him in international matches.
"The ICC has a number of lawyers and we are in contact with them, and we will have more discussions with Hair after a few days.
"I spoke to Darrell on Friday after the decision was made, and he was very disappointed."
ICC president Percy Sonn added: "It was clear from discussions that the ICC board had lost confidence in Mr Hair.
"As such, it was resolved that he should not be appointed to international matches involving ICC full members."
On 20 August, Pakistan were in the field against England on the fourth day of the final Test of the series.
Hair, already regarded as a controversial figure - particularly in the subcontinent - awarded England a five-run penalty because he believed the ball had been interfered with.
606: DEBATE
The Pakistan team refused to resume play after the tea interval in protest against the decision leading to the first fofeiture in 129 years of Test cricket.
ICC adjudicator Ranjan Madugalle later cleared Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq of ball-tampering charges.
But as a direct result of that controversy, it has now been decided that the laws on ball-tampering will be referred to the ICC Cricket Committee.
Hair offered his resignation to the ICC in exchange for US$500,000 in the wake of the Oval match.
And the first indication that his days as a Test umpire might be over came when he was removed from the panel for October's Champions Trophy in India on security grounds.
His fellow umpire at The Oval, West Indian Billy Doctrove, has always maintained a lower profile and will be engaged for further commitments this winter.
"His status remains the same," confirmed Sonn. "The executive board did not discuss Mr Doctrove."
There remains an outside chance that Cricket Australia could appoint Hair as an umpire for home one-day internationals.
But Hair lives in Lincoln, England, and has not officiated in one-day matches in his country of birth since 2002-03.