And the study also casts doubt on the popular assertion that it is safer to watch the game on television.

The Scottish Medical Journal found that Edinburgh Royal Infirmary treated an incredible 151 patients for football-related problems during the 1998 World Cup in France.

The report revealed:

• A fan was rushed to hospital suffering an asthma attack which came on as he watched the Scots go down 3-0 to the Moroccans.

• Another fan needed treatment for self-inflicted deafness from his shouting at the television.

• One fan - sporting a full Scotland strip - was found unconscious after having overdosed on temazepam. He required treatment for psychosis when he said the Scottish squad was talking to him through the television screen.

• Chest pains saw eight more fans in need of help, two for hyperventilation, three for alcohol-related seizures and one for palpitations.

• The remaining cases were for alcohol-related incidents involving a fall or a fight.

National team coach Craig Brown said he was not surprised fans got so over-excited watching the team in action.

"I get very worked up myself watching the games so it's doesn't surprise me. The level of support we get is so terrific," he said.

"There's a lot of folk who can't get to the games and sometimes when we are playing away we do not realise the fervour in the country.

"During the World Cup it was apparently very frantic for the Morocco game.

'Armchair fans'

"Football means so much to people here and the fans demand 100%."

The Scottish Tories' health spokeswoman, Mary Scanlon, said more Scots should attend matches rather than watching them on TV.

"I think rather than sitting by the armchair with their tins of Tennents Lager and their fags people should get out to the football ground," she said.

"Instead of being armchair fans we should be looking for people to participate more. As a nation we are becoming more like spectators and perhaps this is why there are so many hospital cases.

"Their devotion to the game should be full-hearted physical rather than just as spectators."

But not all the World Cup casualties were confined to the Tartan Army.

One desperate football widow faked a fit in an attempt to divert her husband's attention from a crucial tie.

She was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where the medical notes read: "Attention-seeking behaviour. Husband watching the football."