An SNP shadow minister in the Scottish Parliament was arrested at the England versus Scotland football match at Wembley, it emerged last night.
Party sources said Mr Kenny MacAskill was held by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, but was not charged or cautioned.
But the MSP for Lothians region, an avid Scotland fan, was detained in the cells for the duration of the Euro 2000 play-off match last Wednesday, which the Scots won 1-0.
Mr MacAskill (41), who holds the transport and environment portfolio, issued a statement insisting the matter was a "misunderstanding". He said: "There was a simple misunderstanding on the way to the ground. I was neither cautioned nor charged and was released as soon as the match was over.
"I was really fed up going all the way to Wembley and missing the famous victory, but it won't put me off going to future games."
He added: "I appreciate of course that the police were being extra-vigilant in their approach to the Wembley match. There are no hard feelings and the incident is closed."
SNP business manager in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Mike Russell, said: "As far as the party is concerned there is no caution, no charge and no incident."
A senior party source said: "As far as we are concerned it is over and done with."
It is understood that the incident took place close to the stadium where the MSP was said to be "a bit boisterous".
Mr MacAskill was asked to go the police station but rejoined his travelling companions soon after the final whistle.
He was told of the Scotland goal by a police officer while he was being detained.
Mr MacAskill, a lawyer, once jokingly referred to the England football team as "the great Satan" during a party conference speech.
He is a member of the Scottish Football Association's travel club and is a regular at Scotland away fixtures, often organising overseas trips for fellow members.
He has been one of the party's most effective front bench performers in the early days of the Scottish Parliament and is seen as coming from the "fundamentalist" wing of the party which has been critical of leader Mr Alex Salmond's "gradualist" approach to independence.
The party last night stressed there would be no action against Mr MacAskill.