{"id":587898,"date":"2026-05-16T20:57:10","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T20:57:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/587898\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T20:57:10","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T20:57:10","slug":"hearts-say-scenes-at-celtic-embarrassed-scottish-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/587898\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearts say scenes at Celtic \u2019embarrassed Scottish football\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hearts have condemned the \u201cshameful scenes\u201d at Celtic Park which \u201cembarrassed Scottish football\u201d as their William Hill Premiership dream ended in acrimonious fashion.<\/p>\n

Immediately after Callum Osmand made it 3-1 deep into stoppage time of the title decider, fans ran on to the playing surface to celebrate \u2013 even though the full-time whistle had not been heard.<\/p>\n

Several confronted the crestfallen Hearts players, who were ushered down the tunnel by club officials concerned for their safety, and the match \u2013 approaching the end of the indicated eight minutes of added time \u2013 did not restart.<\/p>\n

With Celtic\u2019s players and supporters still inside the ground waiting to lift the trophy, the Hearts team bus left Parkhead with players still in their match kits within 20 minutes of the full-time whistle and did not carry out their post-match media duties.<\/p>\n

The club promptly returned to Edinburgh, where they were met by many proud Hearts fans, and later released a strongly worded statement on the afternoon\u2019s events.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeart of Midlothian utterly condemns the shameful scenes at Celtic Park this afternoon which have, once again, embarrassed Scottish football,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n

\u201cReports 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven the menacing and threatening atmosphere inside the stadium, our entire staff had no alternative but to leave immediately, without undertaking post-match media duties. To our media partners, we apologise, but the safety of our staff was our prime focus during these unacceptable scenes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe pitch invasion caused a chaotic end and nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur players were then denied the opportunity to thank our magnificent fans \u2013 sensational to a person \u2013 for their backing this afternoon and all season long.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis season has seen Hearts capture the imagination of football fans, not only in Scotland, but the world over.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pay tribute to Derek McInnes, his staff, the first team and the supporters, who have done the club proud this season. None of them deserved the disgraceful scenes that unfolded.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier, Celtic boss Martin O\u2019Neill had said: \u201cIf some Hearts players have been accosted, then that\u2019s just not right at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cI genuinely didn\u2019t see the scenes at the end because I thought the game wasn\u2019t over, so I\u2019m trying to push some of our fans off the pitch again to play whatever\u2019s left.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, at 3-1, I think that the fourth official had said to me, there was like a minute to go when we scored the goal, so with the best will in the world, they\u2019re not going to get two goals in that time.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, there\u2019s a lot of commotion in the tunnel, so I don\u2019t know, but getting back to the point, if Hearts players have been accosted by some of our fans, that\u2019s pretty serious. Honestly, I\u2019m not pushing it to the side, it\u2019ll be something that the officials or people will have to look at.\u201d<\/p>\n

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