‘An embarrassment to Scottish football’: Hearts issue strong statement on ‘shameful’ scenes at Celtic

Hearts have said the behaviour of some Celtic fans “embarrassed Scottish football” amid what the club described as “disturbing” reports of “serious physical and verbal abuse towards players and stuff” in the aftermath of Saturday’s Scottish Premiership title decider. In a strong statement, Hearts condemned the “shameful scenes” at Celtic Park after hundreds of celebrating supporters invaded pitch following Callum Osmand’s title-sealing goal , with some goading and confronting Hearts players after the visitors missed out on their first league title since 1960 in a dramatic finale. Hearts said the pitch invasion caused “a chaotic end” to the match and added that “nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish”.

With one minute still to be played and the score at 3-1, the Hearts players were brought off the pitch for their safety following Osmand’s goal and the subsequent pitch invasion, but the match was not resumed. (Reuters) The Hearts team then left Celtic Park within 10 minutes of full-time due to what the club called a “menacing and threatening atmosphere”, later returning to an emotional welcome at Tynecastle as some players broke down in tears. In response, Hearts said they expect “expect the strongest action possible” from the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League, while they confirmed they are in dialogue with Police Scotland.

The Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland had to be escorted off the pitch by police amid reports that the Scotland international was involved in a physical altercation with a Celtic supporter. The Celtic manager Martin O’Neill, meanwhile, said it would be “pretty serious” if Hearts players had been “accosted” on the pitch amid the home team’s celebrations. “Heart of Midlothian utterly condemns the shameful scenes at Celtic Park this afternoon which have, once again, embarrassed Scottish football,” a club statement said.

“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. We will make no further comment at this time other than to say that it is completely unacceptable that our players and staff were put in that situation.