Celtic have issued an apology to Hearts and have pledged their full cooperation with a police investigation concerning the pitch invasion that took place at the end of the exciting Scottish Premiership title match between the two clubs.
After Callum Osmand scored in the 98th minute to secure a 3-1 victory for Celtic, fans rushed onto the field, with some confronting the Hearts players. In response, Hearts players left the stadium without changing, citing a “menacing and threatening atmosphere inside the stadium.”
While celebrating their fifth consecutive league title and paying homage to manager Martin O’Neill and the squad, Celtic expressed regret over the actions of certain fans. “We want to stress that there is no justification for this behavior, which detracts from the enjoyment of these moments for the majority of Celtic supporters,” the club’s statement noted.
Celtic also extended their apologies to Hearts for the distress faced by their players and staff, lamenting that such incidents prevented them from acknowledging their supporters after a thrilling season.
The SPFL confirmed that the match was not prematurely halted despite fans entering the pitch. Play did not continue after Osmand’s goal, even though the game technically had time remaining.
In their statements, the SPFL congratulated Celtic and expressed sympathies to Hearts, commending referee Don Robertson and his officiating team for maintaining composure during the dramatic events. They clarified that they were informed by the referee that the match had concluded and had not been abandoned.
The SPFL condemned the actions of Celtic supporters who entered the field and stated they would assess the situation once they received the match delegate’s report. They emphasized that such behavior is completely unacceptable and poses risks to everyone involved in the game. Additionally, they reminded the public that pitch invasions are a criminal offense in England and Wales since 1991 and encouraged anyone with information about any alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland.