Rod rocks up with Tartan Army – but Scots fear fans will bring home Covid
FOR a man who had a football pitch installed in his back garden, it was hardly surprising that Rod Stewart was one of the first to be spotted at Wembley.
The London-born star, whose father was from Leith, was snapped in a tartan facemask and later hugging other supporters as he cheered on his beloved Scotland team at Friday’s Euros match.
Other well-known faces among the crowd for the England vs Scotland game included
pop singer Ed Sheeran and frontbenchers Michael Gove and Matt Hancock.
Last night, an estimated 20,000 Scotland supporters headed back home after a night of partying, despite the goal-less draw.
However, some Scots reacted with fury to footage of jubilant fans, wearing kilts and draped in Scottish flags, singing, dancing and letting off smoke bombs in a packed Leicester Square.
One social media user said: ‘I’m guessing we’ll have a spike of the Delta variant in areas of Scotland soon as a shower of morons head to London and jam-pack themselves into Leicester Square.
‘Selfish idiots just for a game of kickball.’
Another added: ‘My concern is the travelling fans taking the Delta variant back to Scotland and destroying everything that has been done so far.’
Hundreds of crushed beer cans and a sea of litter were left strewn behind in Central London as supporters headed to Wembley Stadium and pubs ahead of kick off.
However, a number of Scotland fans took part in a clean-up – with some even returning after the game to finish the job.
UK fans bought 3.4 million pints during the 90 minutes of play, with a total of 14.8 million sold across England and Scotland on match day, according to estimates by the British Beer and Pub Association.
However, the trade bodies’ chief executive, Emma McClarkin, said Covid restrictions hampered festivities, adding: ‘Pubs in England and Scotland [ sold] 850,000 pints less than they would have done without restrictions. That will cost pubs in both countries £3.2 million.’
Estimates that 20,000 Scotland fans travelled south were described as ‘very conservative’ by a London Assembly member as pictures showed huge crowds gathering ahead of the game.
Despite the good- natured revelries, 30 people were arrested as part of the policing operation, the Metropolitan Police said yesterday.