Hearts have called for a full investigation after what they described as 'shameful' and 'disgraceful' scenes at Celtic Park, where their players and staff were allegedly subjected to physical and verbal abuse during a pitch invasion following Celtic's 3-1 victory. The win secured Celtic's fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title.
The trouble erupted after Callum Osmand scored Celtic's third goal, prompting a mass pitch invasion. Hearts players were confronted and antagonised, leading to audible boos from some sections of the crowd. The Hearts squad left the pitch before the end of stoppage time, and the game was not restarted. They returned to Tynecastle Park under police escort.
A Hearts statement condemned the incidents, saying: 'Reports of serious physical and verbal abuse towards our players and staff, both on the pitch and elsewhere, are deeply disturbing. We are investigating this fully and are in dialogue with Police Scotland.' The club added that the 'menacing and threatening atmosphere' forced them to leave immediately without fulfilling post-match media duties.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor downplayed the pitch invasion, while manager Martin O'Neill said he was unaware of any targeting of Hearts players but acknowledged that if it happened, 'it's just not right at all.' O'Neill noted confusion over whether the match had ended, as the fourth official indicated there was still a minute to play.
Hearts, who came close to their first title since 1960, praised their fans for their support and demanded 'the strongest action possible' from football authorities. The club stated: 'None of them deserved the disgraceful scenes that unfolded.'
