Scotland fans allowed to use bagpipes at Euro 2024 as UEFA clarify stance

08 February 2024 , 18:48

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There were fears the Tartan Army’s traditional noisy soundtrack would be silenced this summer (Image: Dan Kitwood)

Scotland fans travelling to Germany for Euro 2024 have been told they can blow their bagpipes.

There were fears the Tartan Army’s traditional noisy soundtrack would be silenced this summer by tournament bosses. UEFA had issued a ban on “mechanical sound-emitting devices” at matches.

But now the governing body has said bagpipes will be allowed as long as they are registered with the Scottish FA. Scotland kick off the tournament against hosts Germany on June 14.

The match will be played at the Allianz Arena in Munich, where a ”prohibited items” list for the stadium include “mechanical or electronic noisemakers, such as megaphones and air horns”. Also on the list are “other sound-emitting and speech-amplification devices,” with “pea whistles and vuvuzelas” given as examples.

Now a spokesperson for UEFA has confirmed: “Fans are welcome to bring instruments to the stadium, but they will have to register them with their respective national associations, who will be responsible for centralising their fans’ activities inside the stadium.”

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Iain Emerson, editor of the Famous Tartan Army magazine, said the sound of the bagpipes will ”lift” manager Steve Clarke’s team and create a “party atmosphere”.

He said : “I think the very thought of banning our national instrument, that identifies Scotland so much throughout the world, would just take so much away from the occasion.

The bagpipes will ”lift” manager Steve Clarke’s team and create a “party atmosphere” (Getty Images)

“I was at the opening game of the World Cup in 1998 against Brazil. Brazil had their samba drums and we had the bagpipes and it was one massive party and it was fantastic.

“It is a unique atmosphere and it is unique throughout the world that we can bring the bagpipes to the game. Stevie Clarke knows how to get the players going but the fans backing is so important as well and this just adds to another lift we can give the team.”

UEFA stepped in to ban the use of some devices after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The tournament was memorable for the deafening buzzing sound of plastic vuvuzelas echoing around the stadiums.

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