Euro 2020: Thousands of Scotland fans gather in central London

Thousands of Scotland fans have gathered in central London to watch the team's Euro 2020 match with England.

Many fans travelled despite warnings they should not go to London unless they have a match ticket, or a safe place to watch the game.

Those who gathered in Leicester Square were moved on by police shortly after half-time.

The Tartan Army were allocated only about 2,600 tickets for Wembley, due to Covid rules. The final score was 0-0.

A fan zone in Trafalgar Square was reserved for 750 key workers.

Groups of supporters wearing kilts, Scotland shirts and flags have been chanting, singing and playing bagpipes gathered at Leicester Square, King's Cross and Hyde Park.

A large number of officers moved in on Scotland fans congregated in Leicester Square shortly before half time, after it is understood an opposing group tried to approach the visiting fans who remained at the central London location after kick off.

Officers moved in and placed a cordon around the group of Scots who were later moved out of the square.

Earlier a dispersal order was issued for central London, giving the police extra powers to break up groups of people where they believe their behaviour is causing a nuisance, harassment or distress.

There have been no reports of any significant disorder - although there have been videos on social media that appeared to show some fans singing offensive anti-English songs.

Estimates that 20,000 Scotland fans would travel south for the match have been been described as "very conservative" by a London Assembly member.

Ahead of the match, fans gathered in Leicester Square wearing kilts and Scotland shirts waved flags and set off blue smoke bombs while chanting, singing and playing the bagpipes.

Some England fans were also seen in the square wearing team shirts and draped in England's flag.

People were seen climbing into the fountain of William Shakespeare in the square and splashing around in the water. Others climbed on top of the statue and put a cone on its head.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged fans to "be respectful to our hosts" in London, and said they should not behave in a way that was going to make the Covid problem worse.

She also said she would "abhor and condemn unreservedly" any anti-English behaviour.

Ali Brawley, 55, from Galston in East Ayrshire, said he had arrived with a group of friends in London at midnight on Wednesday, and had spent the time since "sightseeing" around the city's pubs.

Mr Brawley and his friends will be watching the game from a pub which they booked, but he believes it would have been easier for fans - and the police - if there had been a dedicated fan zone for the Tartan Army.

He added: "We had our first train cancelled, our hotel closed last week for refurbishment - we had to rebook the hotel. We just thought we weren't getting to get here.

"The organisation has been horrendous because of Covid, it's been tough to try and get somewhere to watch the football.

"I do believe they should have had big screens, herd us all together so we're all in the one place but now all the Scots are going to be everywhere."

Scotland fan Michael McLean, from Inverness, told BBC Scotland he had decided to travel after booking travel and accommodation several months ago.

"It's an amazing atmosphere so far. I think it seems that they've underestimated how many would travel down for the game," he said.

"It feels like a normal football occasion. It doesn't feel like there's a pandemic on, which I don't think is good in a way, but it's definitely good to enjoy an occasion after a year-and-a-half."

Mr McLean said the trains had been packed on the way down, with crowds of Scottish fans gathering and chanting outside King's Cross station on Thursday afternoon.

He told BBC Radio Scotland's Drivetime he had heard London Mayor Sadiq Khan's pleas for fans to stay away, but said much of the travel he had booked was non-refundable.

"£600 in total for all of us would be a lot to lose just to decide not to go down. Fair enough if it was refundable - but I don't want to lose the money."

One Scot who lives in London said it was "inevitable" that crowds of fans would travel south.

Gary, a 30-year-old consultant, said: "It was inevitable, regardless of restrictions in place. You can't stop the masses coming down to celebrate a once in a generation event."

Of the Scotland-England rivalry, he added that "99%" would be friendly. "It'll be a laugh," he said.

The Met Police's football chief, Ch Insp Joseph Stokoe, said officers had been reminding fans that some Londoners are "still living under the fear of the pandemic".

He added: "It's a shame, it feels like there aren't enough places for the fans to enjoy themselves, but that's why the message has always been - if you don't have a ticket, don't travel.

"Enjoy the match, enjoy the event locally, in a safer event. Don't come here, because unfortunately because of what's gone on across the world, we've been unable to provide the amount of fan zones you might expect in normal times."

Emma Best, a member of the London Assembly and the Conservative group's spokeswoman on health, said she believed an estimate that 20,000 Scotland fans would travel might turn out to be a "very conservative" estimate.

But Ms Best added that the Tartan Army had been creating a "really good-natured atmosphere" throughout the city.

"The Boogie song is being played everywhere I've been walking. It's a lovely atmosphere and you could be forgiven for thinking we are not still in the midst of a pandemic, and I think that sums it up.

"What a shame that we can't have this match in normal times and really enjoy this occasion, but we are where we are and I do hope it's as safe as it can be."

Wembley is open at 25% capacity for the match, with supporters having to show either proof of vaccination or a negative lateral flow test before entry.

Pubs and bars in London were also expected to limit numbers allowed in.

The much-anticipated match, the 115th in international football's oldest rivalry, is the first time the two sides have met in a major tournament since Euro 96, when Paul Gascoigne's famous goal sealed a 2-0 win for England.

Scotland lost their first game of the tournament 2-0 against the Czech Republic on Monday, while England defeated Croatia 1-0 the previous day.

Wembley and Hampden are among 11 venues across Europe hosting the games in the tournament, which was delayed for a year because of the pandemic.

Scotland have never made it past the group stage before, but the top two - or possibly three - teams will go through to the knockout phase.

After the match at Wembley, Croatia will visit Hampden on Tuesday for Scotland's second match on home soil.

Where are you watching the Euros this evening? Have you set up camp at home or away? Were you lucky enough to secure stadium tickets? Please share your stories and pictures with us.

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