Aberdeen council staff to get World Cup holiday

Council staff in Aberdeen will get an additional public holiday to mark Scotland's participation in the World Cup.

First Minister John Swinney previously said Monday 15 June should be designated as a national bank holiday, and the proposal was later approved by the King but it is up to individual employers to make the decision.

A special meeting of Aberdeen City Council's staff governance committee agreed on Monday afternoon that its staff should get the additional holiday.

The decision means the council's workers will be able to watch Scotland's opening game against Haiti, which due to the time difference takes place overnight, without worrying about the lack of sleep.

Additional holidays were previously given in 2022 to mark Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee and later that year to mark her state funeral.

Scotland's men's national team will be playing in its first World Cup since 1998 after qualifying with a 4-2 win over Denmark at Hampden Park.

But an extra day-off is not guaranteed - earlier this month Western Isles councillors decided against giving staff a public holiday, arguing it could not afford the gesture when it was facing a budget deficit.

The national team will face Haiti in their first fixture at the tournament on 14 June, with kick off at 02:00 UK time.

Both other group matches, against Morocco on 19 June and Brazil on 24 June, get under way at 23:00.

In January, Aberdeen councillors decided hospitality businesses in the city will be allowed extended opening hours for Scotland's matches.

A blanket 03:00 closing time extension for the tournament was approved by the licensing board, with extra time for Scotland games that go beyond that.