Nicola Sturgeon has said people gathering to watch Euro 2020 is not the sole explanation for the recent surge in covid cases across Scotland.
Public health experts announced this week that 1,991 Scots who recently tested positive for coronavirus had been identified as either attending a match at Hampden or Wembley, the fan zone at Glasgow Green, or a pub or house party where a match was being shown.
Almost 400 Tartan Army fans found later to have covid were in attendance at Wembley for the England v Scotland match on June 18, which ended goalless.
Supporters attending the match at Wembley were required to either show the NHS app confirming they have received both covid jags at least 14 days beforehand, or a negative lateral flow test taken within the previous 48 hours.
Nearly three-quarters of the cases were found in people aged between 20 and 39, while nine in 10 of those identified were men.
Speaking at a covid media briefing today, the First Minister was asked about the link between rising case numbers and watching football.
She said: "We definitely think it's there. But there is a danger if everyone assumes what we are seeing right now is related to football, and that if you're not watching the football you'll think these messages don't apply to you - and conversely, if you are watching the football, we're trying to blame you.
"Neither of these things are true."
She added: "If you look at the Public Health Scotland information from this week, around 2,000, in one form or another, had an association with football. But there was more than 30,000 cases over that same period.
"So has football had an impact? We think yes. Is it entirely the explanation for what we are dealing with currently? Absolutely not.
"We've community transmission and that's what we've got just now. I think it's important we understand that association, particularly as the football is not finished.
"So if you're planning to watch England tomorrow, particularly if you're planning on having folk in your house, stick to the limit and follow all the rules."
