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An estimated 20,000 Scots have already made the trip down to London, with thousands expected to travel today for the highly-anticipated game that will kick off at 8pm at Wembley tonight. In making the trip, fans are ignoring the pleas of the Met Police and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who urged supporters to stay away. But the warning fell on deaf ears, with football fans descending to London streets en masse last night, partying in Leicester Square and leaving the capital’s landmarks strewn with rubbish.
Scottish fans have returned to London pubs this morning, with landlords noting some arrived for 10am on the dot.
George Galloway, a leading critic of Scottish independence, has condemned the actions of the Scottish fans.
He wrote on Twitter: “I hate everything about Scottish Nationalism.
“I’m appalled at some of the scenes in London.
“I loath what the Separatists have done to my country.
“But tonight I’m supporting Scotland all the way and with all of my broken heart.”
The so-called Tartan Army arrived in London yesterday afternoon and congregated in the West End from 3pm.
Fans were spotted partying at the William Shakespeare fountain in Leicester Square yesterday afternoon, which they turned into a giant bubble bath.
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The Met Police issued a 48-hour dispersal order yesterday, which lasts until 3pm on Saturday.
Scotland Yard issued the Section 35 Dispersal Order in anticipation of ‘anti-social behaviour’.
The order gives police constables and police community support officers the power to exclude a person from an area for 48 hours with an Inspector’s authority.
Mr Khan had urged ticketless supporters to “enjoy the game from Scotland” as he feared a major influx of people would cause a “serious risk” of spreading Covid-19.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is under pressure to condemn the behaviour of the Scottish fans.
She is facing accusations of double standards from some social media users who claimed the First Minister would speak out if it was England fans in Scotland – or even Rangers supporters in Glasgow.
One Twitter user fumed: “Not a whisper about the potential to kill thousands of people with Covid spreading as a consequence of 30,000 people descending on London and returning to Scotland.
“Sturgeon has been very quiet but be assured if this was England fans in Glasgow she would be kicking up.”
Another wrote: “If that many England fans had descended on Scotland without tickets I’m sure Nicola Sturgeon would have a lot to say and would keep saying it.”
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