MEMBERS of the Tartan Army took part in a clean-up of London’s Leicester Square yesterday morning after celebrations over Scotland’s Euro result against England.
The scoreless draw, which has kept the nation’s hopes alive for making it through to the next round, was met with joyous scenes within and outside the stadium.
Thousands had travelled from Scotland to London to support the team despite Covid restrictions, with a large number of them watching the match in pubs.
Fans congregated in Leicester Square to mark the result, which was eventually cleared by the Met Police at 1:15am.
READ MORE: IN PICTURES: Joyous scenes as Scots celebrate on London streets
Yesterday First Minister Nicola Sturgeon praised the national men’s football team as “role models”, highlighting Stephen O’Donnell speaking about the criticism he faced following his performance against the Czech Republic.
She tweeted: “This team has so many role models who will inspire the next generation, on and off the pitch – and Stephen O’Donnell is one of them. This is so articulate on dealing with pressure, the importance of self belief and having the support of these around you.”
The game was the most-watched of the Euro 2020 tournament on TV so far, drawing an average audience of 13.1 million and a peak of 20 million viewers across ITV and STV.
STV said it had recorded its highest ever peak audience since records began in 2002 – with nearly 1.98million tuning in, beating the moment Coronation Street serial killer Richard Hillman confessed his crimes to wife Gail in 2003.
London mayor Sadiq Khan (below) had urged fans not to come to the city unless they had a ticket or had organised somewhere to watch the game.
The First Minister had urged fans to “be respectful to our hosts” in London and not to behave in any way that was going to make the Covid problem worse.
A total of 30 people were arrested in central London as part of the policing operation for England’s Euros clash with Scotland, Met Police said.
The force added 25 of the arrests were in central London while five people were arrested in the vicinity of Wembley.
Scotland Yard said in a tweet: “13 arrests were for public order offences, 6 for drunk and disorderly, 4 for assault on police, 3 for assault, 2 related to Class A drugs and one each for breaching a dispersal order and breaching a banning order.”
Many fans were wearing kilts and draped in Scotland flags, singing and cheering in Leicester Square.
Others kicked footballs, some held aloft bottles of alcohol, with renditions of Flower of Scotland and chants of “No Scotland, no party”.
The Met said officers entered Leicester Square at about 12.45am and encouraged those still at the scene to leave the area, with the square finally cleared by 1.15am.
READ MORE: Scotland fans make ex-England star Rio Ferdinand eat humble pie
Fans also gathered in Glasgow’s George Square following the match, with no arrests made.
Scotland will now face Croatia at Hampden on Tuesday – with a win potentially taking the country into the knockout stages at a major tournament for the very first time.
Tartan Army member Hamish Husband told BBC Radio Scotland: “We played extremely well, however the job is not done. We have to qualify for the next round.
“Which set of fans in the world can celebrate a nothing each draw with such vigour? But onwards and upwards – we played well, we have to now beat the Croats.”
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