During the World Cup, Scottish football supporters known as the “Tartan Army” have taken part in a visible trend involving traffic cones. Multiple reports say the practice began to gain attention through fans “coning” statues during matches, and that the activity has since spread in Scotland more broadly. Accounts describe an increase in people copying the coning idea back home, using traffic cones in public spaces as a playful, football-linked stunt. The reports also note that the trend is not universally welcomed. Some people express concerns about vandalism, public disruption, and disrespect for public artwork, while others frame it as a humorous fan tradition tied to national team support.
Overall, outlets agree that the coning phenomenon is linked to World Cup-era fan culture and has grown beyond its initial instances. However, they also highlight a divide in public reaction, with supporters viewing it as light-hearted and critics raising issues around damage and suitability of the behaviour in shared spaces.
