McConnell backing Ecuador 'underdogs'

Jack McConnell has said he will be supporting Ecuador against England in their World Cup clash on Sunday.

The Scottish first minister has refused to support England throughout the tournament  - bringing criticism that he has set the wrong tone in Scotland.

There have been a number of violent incidents directed at England fans in Scotland, including attacks on a seven-year-old boy in Edinburgh and a disabled 41-year-old man in Aberdeen who were punched and racially abused because they were wearing England football shirts.

But asked by the Times who he would be supporting on Sunday, McConnell replied: "You know me - I always back the underdog." Bookmakers have England the favourites to win at 1-4.

McConnell did, however, take the unusual step of making a statement in the Scottish parliament, describing the two recent attacks as "entirely unacceptable".

He also declared that English people, who will make up 10 per cent of Scotland's population by 2015, were always welcome in the country.

Columnists in the Scottish press have suggested that, while not responsible for inciting violence, McConnell had pandered to an "unpleasant side of Scottish nationalism" that devolution had failed to cure.

He declared before the tournament began that he would be supporting Trinidad and Tobago and any "underdogs" or "teams with flair", but not England.