Inverness Caledonian Thistle have reassured fans that there is “no problem” at its home stadium after a giant cloud of smoke descended on the club’s crucial Premiership clash against Aberdeen.
Thousands of fans were mystified as the plume appeared to emerge from nowhere during the second-half of the televised fixture at the Caledonian Stadium on Monday night.
Supporters of the Dons – who were 3-1 down to the Caley-Jags at the time – took to social media to express their hopes that the game might be abandoned.
But rival fans poked fun at the Granite City club – suggesting it was Aberdeen’s hopes of winning the title “going up in flames”.
In fact, the issue was caused by the under-pitch heating system kicking in at the stadium.
A club spokesman said that there was nothing to be concerned about.
“It was just the temperature dropped below freezing and the machine clicked on,” he said.
“It’s just the generator for the under-soil heating. You get a build up of power and you get a puff of smoke.
“It’s perfectly normal. There’s no problem and no issue.”
In 2013, the Caley Jags became the first top flight team with a stadium fully heated by biomass boilers.
During Monday’s match, one optimistic Dons fan posted on social media his hopes that the match might be abandoned, forcing a replay.
“Smoke is covering the pitch… this might save us here,” he wrote.
The smoke quickly dispersed, however, with Inverness going on to end Aberdeen’s 12-game unbeaten run, and leave Derek McInnes’ side three points behind Premiership leaders Celtic, who have a game in hand.
“That smoke is Aberdeen’s title hopes going up in flames,” said one fan.
Another wrote: “What’s the smoke? Is it a flare or Aberdeen fans burning their scarfs?”
While one post said: “Not even smoke will cover up how much of a shambles this performance of Aberdeen and Collum (referee Willie Collum) has been.”