Thousands of Scotland fans left without Euros accommodation as fan camp scrapped

THE Tartan Army has been left with a sinking feeling after a Euro 2024 fan camp was cancelled due to flooding.

The Jugendpark in Germany’s Cologne offered basic accommodation at a fraction of the price of hotels and Airbnbs.

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But city chiefs were forced to pull the plug after torrential rain left the nearby River Rhine close to bursting its banks.

The Association of Tartan Army Club stated online: “We’ve been sent some information this afternoon from the host team in Cologne that, unfortunately, the Cologne fan camp has had to be cancelled.”

Euro 2024 spokesman for the city of Cologne, Gregor Timmer, explained: “It is a great shame that we had to make this decision.

“We were all very much looking forward to this camp, which was particularly well received by Scottish and English football fans.

“However, the safety of everyone involved always comes first and we take concerns in this regard very seriously.

“It was important to us to make a decision as early as possible so that the fans affected have the opportunity to find alternatives.

“In addition, we are also averting a financial risk that the city of Cologne would otherwise have borne in full.

“A serious assessment of all these points unfortunately left no other decision than cancellation.”

We told how fans had the chance to book a spot at the 132-bed tented dormitories.

Two single beds for five nights at the digs were coming in at £486, while a single bed in a dormitory was £220.

Other options included four and eight-people dorms, resembling gazebos, at £270 and £315 respectively. Even a patch of grass to pitch a tent was to cost £350.

And fan camp organiser Dirk Stoeveken said: “The campsite is currently almost completely under water and, according to forecasts, the water level in the Rhine will continue to rise.

“This is having a huge impact on preparations and unfortunately does not allow for a reliable forecast regarding the timely construction and possible cost developments.”

Camp organisers state refunds will be promptly processed.

Iain Emerson – editor of The Famous Tartan Army Magazine – said: “This is obviously bad news for fans who have already booked up.

“But at least they have three weeks to sort something else. The Tartan Army has always been resourceful so I don’t doubt they’ll get something else organised.”

He added: “If all the rain continues at least fans will feel at home.”

The city will host Scotland’s second group stage match against Switzerland on June 19.

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