Israel players win hearts with Scotland mascot gesture

Israel may have lost their Uefa Nations League match against Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday 3-2, thus ceding top spot in League C Group I to the hosts and missing out on promotion, but the visiting side won the hearts of the home support and the watching world on a freezing night in Glasgow.

With temperatures hovering slightly above freezing and steady rainfall descending on Glasgow, the mascots that accompanied the Israel team out before kick-off in little more than the blue shirts of the home side were visibly uncomfortable, leading Israel’s players to shed their jackets and wrap them around the shivering youngsters, all of whom accepted the gifts with a broad smile.

“It’s the little things,” wrote one observer on social media as the gesture swiftly did the rounds. “This is further proof that football is more than just a game,” wrote another.