MSP TO CHALLENGE WEMBLEY BAGPIPE BAN
TARTAN ARMY WILL NOT BE SILENCED SAYS JIM EADIE
An SNP MSP is set to challenge Wembley bosses enforcing a bagpipe ban on the Tartan Army for the England versus Scotland national football clash at England’s national stadium in August.
Bizarrely, health and safety reasons are cited by Wembley bosses for the ban on Scotland’s national instrument, as reported in today’s Scottish Sunday Express.
SNP MSP Jim Eadie said:-“The Tartan Army travels the world with bagpipes and it is a sound that has become synonymous with friendships across Europe and the world – as well as a soundtrack to the famous dark blue jerseys on the park.
“This is the first time Scotland will have played at Wembley for many years so the authorities as well as the fans have a responsibility to ensure it is as friendly an atmosphere as possible.
“This game will attract tens of thousands of Scots to London and have a worldwide audience of potentially hundreds of millions of people so it is only fair that the Scottish fans can showcase Scotland with their bagpipes.
“There will be so many disappointed fans – both from Scotland and from further away – that will travel to Wembley stadium with their bagpipes only to be told they can’t use them in the stadium. But I plan to get that ban lifted.
“I am hopeful that this is an oversight and I am writing to Wembley and the English FA to request this position is reversed.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
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