In the lower leagues, football fans are often still very close to the edge of the field - with all the consequences. You can follow the action of the game up close, sometimes call out something more or less friendly to the players, but you also have to be careful not to get hit by a ball flying out of bounds. Like a spectator in Scotland.
Kevin Russell watched the game between fourth tier side Elgin City and club Queen of the South, who have just been relegated to the third tier of Scotland. The game took place in the League Cup, the Scottish equivalent of the German DFB Cup. The fan had made himself comfortable with a drink and a snack on the sidelines and was about to take a bite when a ball hit him with full force.
The cup flew out of his hand, the contents landed on his - to make matters worse still white - T-shirt and the floor. The woman next to Russell just threw up her hands protectively. Exactly at that moment Colin Johnstone, photographer of the visiting team from Dumfries in the south of Scotland, pressed the shutter button. He managed to take a really extraordinary photo that is now causing a stir on social networks.
"Probably the best photo ever taken at a football game," home club Elgin City wrote on Twitter. The club have been struggling to find out who the unlucky one is: "We would like to know the name of this fan so that he can get a free drink at our next game."
So Russell will be compensated, has suffered no further damage from his unfortunate collision with the ball apart from a little shock and should also have been happy about the outcome of the game: His club Elgin City won the game 2-0.
Sources: Elgin City on Twitter / "Metro"
