It was supposed to be a cheeky nod to Scottish humour, but Chris Nicoll's attempt to 'cone' a statue in Miami ended up being more of a slap on the wrist. The St Andrews supporter found himself face-to-face with local police, who weren't having any of it. Footage shows Mr Nicoll placing a traffic cone on Juan Ponce de León's head, but before he could do his trademark strut away, an officer shouted "get off of there!" and put a swift end to the prank.
The whole exchange was captured on video, with a Scottish voice in the background wondering if the Americans would lighten up. But it seems Miami wasn't having any fun – unlike Boston, where the Tartan Army's similar antics were met with good humour and even encouragement from locals. Mr Nicoll told the officer he meant no disrespect to their hosts ahead of Scotland's match against Brazil.
This was more than just a case of cultural differences; it highlighted the varying tolerance for Scottish humour in different cities. The tradition of 'coning' statues, like the Duke of Wellington one in Glasgow, is an unofficial emblem of Scottish wit and usually draws a light-hearted response. But not everywhere – it seems.
The Tartan Army's reputation as passionate supporters with a penchant for playful mischief precedes them wherever they travel. And while their presence is usually welcomed, this incident serves as a reminder that some authorities might not share the same sense of humour.