Scotland match 1, police O: Fans hailed by force

THE trouble-free game at Aber-deen’s Pittodrie stadium between Scotland and Estonia on Wednesday night made history as the first modern international football match in Scotland to go ahead without a police presence inside the ground, it emerged yesterday.

Aberdeen’s match against St Mirren in May 2011 was the first Scottish Premier League police-free match in Scotland.

And Grampian Police yesterday confirmed that, for the first time at international level, there had been no police officers on duty inside the stadium at the match which Scotland won 1-0 under new manager Gordon Strachan.

Chief Superintendent Adrian Watson said: “Scotland’s fans have a history of good natured behaviour at football matches and the Tartan Army can quite rightly be proud of the fact that this game went ahead without the need for police officers inside the stadium.”