Police Scotland has pledged to implement “robust and swift action” against anyone guilty of criminal activity following the Scottish Professional Football League’s (SPFL) condemnation of the Celtic fans’ “wholly unacceptable” pitch invasion at their Premiership title match against Hearts on Saturday.
As Callum Osmand scored in the eighth minute of stoppage-time, putting the Hoops ahead 3-1 and effectively sealing the league title, hundreds of Celtic supporters rushed onto the field.
Many fans approached Hearts players, leading the Edinburgh club to release a statement citing “deeply disturbing reports of serious physical and verbal abuse towards our players and staff, both on the pitch and elsewhere” on Saturday evening.
Christian Borchgrevink, an unused substitute for Hearts, recounted the incident to Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang, stating, “People were worried. I was on the bench and we ran out to shield the others. Everyone eventually made it back in unharmed, but with a few injuries here and there.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland reported on Sunday morning that police investigations are underway.
“We spoke with Hearts yesterday,” he mentioned to the Press Association. “We are following up to determine if any player was assaulted. If any player, or any member of the public, has been assaulted on the pitch, we will take decisive and prompt action.”
“The club [Celtic] is responsible for safety and security and the stadium’s planning. The police offer support regarding any criminality or policing that may be necessary, and we are continuing that process. If there are any criminal activities, including allegations of assault against Hearts players, our post-investigation will address those, and we will take the strongest action possible.”
When asked about any arrests related to the pitch invasion, ACC Sutherland replied, “Not yet. This process remains ongoing as we collaborate with partners today.”
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The SPFL issued a statement on Sunday afternoon stating, “We strongly condemn the incidents where several Celtic supporters encroached onto the field of play. We await the report from our match delegate regarding specific incidents, but regardless, supporters entering the field under any circumstances is entirely unacceptable and endangers all participants and staff involved in a match.”
“We encourage anyone with information about alleged criminal activity to reach out to Police Scotland.”
Following Osmand’s goal, the match did not resume despite having about 30 seconds remaining in the allotted stoppage time.
However, the SPFL clarified: “In light of speculation regarding the match’s conclusion, we want to clarify that the match referee informed us before awarding the trophy that the match had ended and was not abandoned.”
Hearts’ statement remarked, “The pitch invasion resulted in a chaotic end; there was confusion around whether the match had officially concluded.”
Hearts players exited Celtic Park promptly without changing due to what the club described as a “menacing and threatening atmosphere inside the stadium.”
Hearts condemned the “shameful scenes,” asserting they “have embarrassed Scottish football.” They urged that the strongest actions be taken by footballing authorities to ensure the safety of players and supporters and uphold the integrity of the game.