Euros 2020: Scotland fans gather at Hyde Park

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Two goals from captain Harry Kane and headers from Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson handed the England side a 4-0 resounding win at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome last night. Gareth Southgate’s men will now meet Denmark in the last four at Wembley on Wednesday evening.

But across Scotland, a large number of Scotland fans appeared to support Ukraine during the tense game last night.

Tartan Army fan Luke Nicholson, from Leith, Edinburgh, who travelled down to London to watch the June 18 clash at Wembley between Scotland and England was supporting Ukraine yesterday.

The 28-year-old public official told the Express: “I’m a Scotland fan at heart but I wanted to give Ukraine a chance, they are a strong team in my book.”

Vicky Pearson, a 29-year-old Accounts Assistant from Glasgow also had a change of heart after Scotland crashed out of the contest before England last month.

Ms Pearson, who watched the game with her partner Bradley Shaw, 27, added: “Although I really appreciate England every time I visit, they deserved to lose this one.”

The majority of fans attending the Official Fan Zone in Glasgow Green also appeared to support Ukraine.

Scots have also questioned how empty the Fan Zone has been on previous occasions.

One questioned: “I am a big Euro 2020 fan living in Glasgow and would love to see more games at the Fan Zone but tickets are sold out, even though there are many empty tables at each game.

A second said: “The Glasgow Fanzone looks half empty…empty benches everywhere….am I under a misapprehension?

“I expected it to be full?”

It comes after a report revealed 2,000 Covid cases have been linked to Euro 2020 gatherings and the Tartan Army travelling to London.

A report from Public Health Scotland said two-thirds of the 1,991 cases were people who journeyed for Scotland’s match against England last month.

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Opposition MSPs said SNP ministers should have done more to deter fans without a Wembley ticket from travelling.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this week confirmed there was an “association” between the Euros and the recent surge in record-high infections across the country.

The new report cited Test and Protect data showing 55 people were infectious when they attended the Glasgow Green fan zone – where a decision was made not to introduce mandatory testing.

Public Health Scotland’s report said: “PHS is working with Test and Protect and NHS boards to ensure that all public health actions are taken in the close contacts of these Euro 2020 cases.”

Euro 2020: England face Ukraine in quarter-finals clash

Scotland fans were locked out of their traditional meeting point in Trafalgar Square for the June 18 tie with England, which was turned into a fan zone for key workers.

They gathered instead in Leicester Square and sang, drank and added washing-up liquid to the Shakespeare fountain.

On Tuesday SNP Health Secretary Humza Yousaf admitted that football fans watching matches together indoors and fans travelling on coaches to London were partly behind the rise in cases.

Ms Sturgeon later denied taking a “softly, softly” approach with Scotland fans, insisting her government could not “physically stop every person travelling”. 

Scottish Tory health spokeswoman Annie Wells said it was “clear greater precautions could have been taken”.

The MSP added: “The wider public will be angry that those who ultimately broke many restrictions by travelling down south could mean our progress in fighting the virus is hampered.

“However, there was a failure from the First Minister and other SNP Ministers to deliver clear and consistent messaging over the public health risks associated with travelling to watch football.”

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