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.
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.
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.
“Given 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.
“The pitch invasion caused a chaotic end and nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish. Our players were then denied the opportunity to thank our magnificent fans – sensational to a person – for their backing this afternoon and all season long.
“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.
“This season has seen Hearts capture the imagination of football fans, not only in Scotland, but the world over. We 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.”
Earlier, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill had said: “If some Hearts players have been accosted, then that’s just not right at all.
“I genuinely didn’t see the scenes at the end because 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.
“Obviously, 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’re not going to get two goals in that time.
“Obviously, there’s a lot of commotion in the tunnel, so I don’t know, but getting back to the point, if Hearts players have been accosted by some of our fans, that’s pretty serious. Honestly, I’m not pushing it to the side, it’ll be something that the officials or people will have to look at.”
Meanwhile, the behaviour of some Celtic fans towards Hearts players has been described as “unacceptable” by former Scotland international James McFadden.
“I understand spilling over, onto the pitch, with emotion, you back off, but this is unacceptable to me, going up to players. I get emotions running high, players should be safe on the football pitch. You do not want to see that,” McFadden said.
