CELTIC WIN IN FINAL THRILLER VS. HEARTS

 

CELTIC VS. HEARTS FALL-OUT: PLAYER VREAKS SILENCE, SPFL STATEMENT AND FINAL WHISTLE CLARIFICATION

Reaction from chaotic and ugly scenes in title decider

Police Scotland have vowed to take “robust and swift action” against anybody found to have committed criminality as the Scottish Professional Football League condemned Celtic supporters’ “wholly unacceptable” pitch invasion at the end of their team’s Premiership title decider against Hearts.

Hundreds of Celtic fans streamed on to the playing surface when Callum Osmand netted in the eighth minute of stoppage-time to put the Hoops 3-1 ahead and effectively seal the championship.

Several ran towards Hearts players and the Edinburgh club noted “deeply disturbing reports of serious physical and verbal abuse towards our players and staff, both on the pitch and elsewhere” in a statement released on Saturday evening.

Celtic defeated Hearts 3-1 to win the Premiership title on Saturday. | SNS Group

Christian Borchgrevink, an unused substitute for the Jambos, told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang in a telephone interview that: “People got worried. I was on the bench and we ran out to shield the others.

“Everyone eventually made it back in unharmed, but with a little blood here and there.”

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland said on Sunday morning that police investigations are ongoing. “We spoke to Hearts yesterday,” he told the Press Association. “We’re following that up to understand if any player was assaulted.

“If any player, or indeed any member of the public, has been assaulted on that pitch, and there is criminality, we will take robust and swift action.

“The club (Celtic) are responsible for safety and security and the planning of the stadium. Police provide a supporting role in that to look at any criminality, any policing response that is required, and we are continuing to do that.

“So, if there is any criminality, whether that be the allegations of assault against Hearts players or anything else, then our post investigation will pick that up, and we will take the most robust action possible.”

Asked if there had been any arrests relating to the pitch invasion, ACC Sutherland said: “Not as yet. And that remains ongoing as we work through with partners today.”

The SPFL released a statement on Sunday afternoon saying: “We utterly condemn the scenes which saw a number of Celtic supporters encroach onto the field of play.

“We await the report of our match delegate regarding any specific incidents that took place but, regardless, supporters entering the field of play in any circumstances is wholly unacceptable and puts those participating and working at a match at risk.

“We urge anyone with information about any alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland.”

The match did not restart despite having around 30 seconds left of the allotted stoppage-time when Osmand scored. “The pitch invasion caused a chaotic end and nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish,” Hearts’ statement added.

“We await the report of our match delegate regarding any specific incidents that took place but, regardless, supporters entering the field of play in any circumstances is wholly unacceptable and puts those participating and working at a match at risk.

“We urge anyone with information about any alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland.”

The match did not restart despite having around 30 seconds left of the allotted stoppage-time when Osmand scored. “The pitch invasion caused a chaotic end and nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish,” Hearts’ statement added.

The SPFL wrote: “We would also like to thank the referee and his excellent team of match officials for their cool heads on such a dramatic day. Given the speculation about the conclusion of the game, we would like to make clear that, prior to awarding the trophy, we were informed by the match referee that the match had ended and had not been abandoned.”

Hearts players quickly left Celtic Park without getting changed due to what the Edinburgh club described as a “menacing and threatening atmosphere inside the stadium”.

Hearts condemned the “shameful scenes”, saying they had “embarrassed Scottish football”.

“We expect the strongest action possible to be taken by the footballing authorities in the interests of protecting the safety of players and supporters, and the integrity of our game,” they added.

- Ross McLeish

MARTIN O'NEILL REACTS CELTIC VS HEARTS PITCH INVASION AND WHAT HE WAS TOLD ABOUT FULL TIME WHISTLE

The Celtic manager has responded after a chaotic end to the game between his side and Hearts.

Martin O’Neill has responded to claims of Hearts players being ‘accosted’ at Parkhead - as the Celtic manager reveals what the fourth official told him after Callum Osmand’s goal.

The Hoops won the Premiership title on the final day through late goals by Daizen Maeda and Osmand in a 3-1 victory, Lawrence Shankland initially putting the visitors ahead, cancelled out by an Arne Engels penalty. Hearts needed a draw to clinch their first top flight honour since 1960 as they end season 25/26 in second, but chaotic scenes played out after Osmand netted deep into second half stoppage time to finish the match, home fans spilling onto the pitch.

In the aftermath, Hearts want the ‘strongest action possible’, after reports of ‘serious’ physical and verbal abuse towards their players and staff. O’Neill says he wasn’t aware of anything in the immediate aftermath of the game but insisted it wasn’t right were that to have played out. Referee Don Robertson blew for full time after fans stormed onto the pitch and the Celtic manager claims the fourth official said there was a minute left in proceedings after Osmand’s strike.

Martin O’Neill on end to Celtic vs Hearts game

The Hoops boss said: “I’m not pleading the fifth amendment, I don’t know. If there have been some Hearts players accosted then that’s just not right at all. But I genuinely didn’t see the scenes at the end.

“I thought the game wasn’t over, so I’m trying to push some of our fans off the pitch again to play whatever’s left. The fourth official had said to me there was like a minute to go when we scored the goal. But with the best will in the world, they’re not going to get two goals in that time.

“I didn’t see the incidents. Obviously, there’s a lot of commotion in the tunnel, so I don’t know. But if Hearts players have been accosted by some of our fans, that’s pretty serious.”

Martin O’Neill on Celtic 3-1 Hearts

O’Neill, who twice returned to the Celtic dugout this season after departures for Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy, added on the game: “The players, the coaching staff, have given me a reason to live. That’s not to say my family haven’t, but this is the most special place on earth. When there is absolute unison in this stadium, it is a sight to behold.

“I am ecstatic, really ecstatic and the great thing is I am getting a lot of credit for things I did not do! I am not going to disavow them of that notion. I never thought I would ever stand on a winner’s podium at this club again, not in a million years. Lifting the trophy was the best feeling in the world. There is nothing like that. We have been in front for just eight or nine minutes.

“This group have been through a lot, a resignation, me coming in and leaving, another fella coming in and leaving. That is disturbing for a team. We have lots of things to put right, but the fighting spirit in the camp is special. For all the tactics in the world, it is about heart. That is what it boils down to. Great players can pick a pass, and it looks great, like the tactics are working a treat. We might not have that, so we have to show some heart. We have to look at things in the summer. Hearts have been brilliant this year and it is a wake up call to Celtic and Rangers.”

- Ben Banks

'DISGUSTING' - HEARTS BOSS DEREK MCINNES FUMES OVER CELTIC WINNER

 

Kelechi Iheanacho scores a 99th-minute penalty to seal a 3-2 for Celtic over Motherwell

Hearts boss Derek McInnes described the decision to award William Hill Premiership title rivals Celtic a stoppage-time penalty in their win at Motherwell as "disgusting".

While leaders Hearts were beating Falkirk 3-0 at Tynecastle, Celtic were awarded a contentious spot-kick deep in time added on at Fir Park, which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to snatch his side a 3-2 win.

McInnes' side lead Celtic by a solitary point in the table with a better goal difference and will face the Hoops in a final-day title decider in Glasgow on Saturday.

Hearts will be crowned Scottish champions for the first time in 66 years if they avoid defeat at Celtic Park, but McInnes was furious over the penalty decision.

He told Sky Sports: "Everybody was just interested in the (Celtic) score. So when you hear Celtic get a 96th-minute penalty (VAR decision), you just assume what’s happened is they get the penalty.

"And having seen it again, I think it’s disgusting, I don’t think it’s a penalty kick.

"But we’re up against it. We’re up against everybody and we’ll be ready for Saturday.

"I don’t think it’s a penalty kick. If I’m Motherwell, I’m really disappointed with that.

"I’ve seen it (the replay) before I came out to speak to you and I think it’s so poor that they’ve been given that penalty. And it looks as if they’ve been 'given’ it.

"I think they’ve been very fortunate, very fortunate on that side. And we have to realise we’re up against everything."

Two goals in five first-half minutes put Hearts in control against Falkirk, with Frankie Kent heading them into a 29th-minute lead and Cameron Devlin firing home from inside the penalty area.

Blair Spittal curled home Hearts’ third in the closing stages, soon after news of Motherwell’s late equaliser against Celtic had filtered through the stands.

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill admitted he feared his team's league hopes were "done for" before the dramatic plot twist.

"I think we knew we had to win both matches otherwise it was done for," he said.

"It's exciting to take it into the final game and I think the players have good belief that they can do it. And that's very, very important.

"We have to win the game. Hearts don't but at least we've taken it there. It's nice to take it into the final game which looked a long way off five or six weeks ago.

"I think we have got a chance, we're at home. The atmosphere will be fantastic."

When asked about the penalty decision, O'Neill said: "The lads have a little monitor. It's very small. I can't really see it. I need another pair of glasses to see it. The lads thought it was a handball, an elbow as well too."

- RTĒ

ARE HEARTS COMPLETE FAVOURITES FOR THE SCOTTISH PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE?