Fastidious Japanese fans took a brief break from celebrating a historic and shock World Cup victory over Colombia to clean up rubbish discarded on the floor of the stadium, earning them praise and inspiring other nations to follow suit.

Following the unfancied side’s 2-1 victory over their South American opponents, the diligent fans were filmed putting plastic cups, bottles, cardboard and food waste left scattered below the stadium’s eye-catching acid orange seats into blue bin bags.

The fans, draped in Japanese flags and scarves, were filmed sweeping the stands of the 44,000-seat, bowl-shaped Mordovia Arena, where just a few minutes earlier they had wildly celebrated an unexpected victory over José Pékerman’s side, quarter-finalists in 2014.

A number of clips capturing the post-match clean-up, after the majority of fans had left the stadium, were posted and shared on social media, earning the Japanese supporters widespread praise and high fives from the few remaining Colombia supporters, sporting the nation’s striking yellow colours.

One impressed fan described the efforts of the Japanese as his “favourite moment of the World Cup so far”, while another added it was an impeccable example of fan behaviour at the tournament.