Whether you loved or hated the South African vuvuzelas at the 2010 World Cup, it's now the bagpipes that will have to be played at Euro 2024. UEFA has formally authorized Scottish supporters to bring into the stage their flagship instrument during the competition which will take place from June 14 to July 14 in Germany, the BBC announced this Thursday.
The European Football Association usually bans "mechanical sound-emitting devices" in stadiums, such as megaphones and vuvuzelas, but Scottish bagpipes will be allowed into stadiums as long as fan owners register their instrument with the association. Scottish Football Association.
An instrument to “create a festive atmosphere”
This measure only applies to the Scots, as a UEFA spokesperson confirmed: “Supporters are welcome to bring instruments to the stadium, but they will need to register them with their respective national associations, who will be responsible of the centralization of the activities of their supporters inside the stadium,” he stressed to the BBC.
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Iain Emerson, editor of Famous Tartan Army magazine, which is dedicated to the Scottish national football team, said the bagpipes would help "support the team" and "create a celebratory atmosphere".
“I think the very idea of banning our national instrument, which so identifies Scotland around the world, would take a lot away from the event.
I attended the opening match of the 1998 World Cup against Brazil.
The Brazilians had drums and we had our bagpipes, it was a huge party and it was fantastic,” he insisted in an interview on the show “Good morning Scotland”.
Steve Clarke's men qualified brilliantly for the continental competition after finishing second in their group behind Spain in the qualifiers.
They will face hosts Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024 on June 14 in Munich.
They will then continue with matches against Switzerland and Hungary.