Miami police have taken a tougher approach toward Scotland’s travelling supporters, known as the «Tartan Army,» ahead of the team’s World Cup match against Brazil.
The move follows an incident involving a Scottish fan who attempted to place a traffic cone on a statue in downtown Miami, a long-running tradition associated with Scottish football supporters. Police quickly intervened, warning the fan and ordering him to climb down.
The reaction contrasted sharply with the reception Scotland fans received in Boston earlier in the tournament, where local authorities and residents embraced many of the group’s traditions. In Miami, however, police have signaled a lower tolerance for behavior that could be considered disorderly or unsafe.
Despite the stricter stance, thousands of Scottish supporters have continued to fill Miami’s streets, bars and sporting venues ahead of Wednesday’s match. The Tartan Army has organized marches through Little Havana and South Beach, attracting large crowds and drawing attention with bagpipes, kilts and chants.
While some fans have expressed surprise at the response from local authorities, most described the atmosphere in Miami as positive and said they planned to continue celebrating responsibly as Scotland prepares for one of its biggest matches of the tournament against Brazil.
