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England vs Uruguay World Cup 2014: Scottish fan spotted celebrating Luis Suarez' goal with Uruguay fans during England defeat

Mark McConville, who hails from Glasgow, was seen celebrating Suarez's winner that looks to have ended England's World Cup campaign

Jack de Menezes
Friday 20 June 2014 13:08 BST
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Scotland fan Mark McConville
Scotland fan Mark McConville

There were 62,575 fans in attendance to witness England’s World Cup campaign crumble to the verge of no return as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay in Sao Paulo on Thursday night. With a large portion of both England and Uruguay fans ready to cheer their side on, you’d think that it would be their passion that would shine through during the encounter – yet they were all overshadowed by one Scottish fan.

Whether he was lost or simply travelling to support anyone but England, the man has now been identified as Glaswegian Mark McConville, a reported Formula One engineer for championship leading team Mercedes. Kitted out in a ginger wig, tartan hat and Scotland’s away shirt, McConville was seen waving a Scottish flag in celebration of Luis Suarez’s winning goal.

McConville, who resides in Northampton, is also believed to have revelled in Italy’s win over England last Saturday as well as enjoying the 2010 World Cup exit at the hands of Germany, and he has been both praised and criticised by fans of both countries in the wake of his humorous appearance, with some putting him on the same pedestal as historic Scottish figure William Wallace.

While his support of Uruguay has angered many England fans, you can’t criticise McConville for his act of generosity as he flew to Brazil with a bag packed full with second-hand football shirts to give to disadvantaged children. Who knows, he might unearth the next Neymar (or Archie Gemmill).

One angry England fan tweeted: “That Scottish fan supporting Uruguay. Made me so angry. Next time Scotland qualify for a major tournament I’ll be in the opposition end.”

But there was a string of support from McConville’s compatriots, who also used the jibe as a political ploy ahead of the Scottish independence referendum next year.

"That Scottish boy in the Uruguay end with the ginger jimmy wig on, Scotland strip and his flag has been immortalised up there with [Wiliam] Wallace,” said one user on Twitter.

“Immediate change to Scottish referendum. Now seeking full union with #Uruguay.”

Another added: “Hating the English enough to travel to Brazil when your team is at home purely to celebrate their failure? Awesome.”

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