Hearts contact police and condemn ‘shameful’ abuse of players and staff after Celtic defeat
TENSION: Police look on as Celtic fans celebrate in Glasgow after their side won the Scottish Premiership title after a 3-1 win at home to Hearts. Pic: Steve Welsh/PA Wire.
HEARTS have issued a statement castigating the “shameful” and “disgraceful” scenes which marred the conclusion to the Scottish Premiership’s title race at Celtic Park. The Edinburgh club has emphasised “deeply disturbing” treatment of players and staff. Celtic’s last-day victory had secured their fifth title in succession.
Callum Osmand’s goal for Celtic, the third in a 3-1 win, fuelled a mass pitch invasion which saw Hearts players antagonised and confronted. Those who entered the pitch were audibly booed by those in the stands.
The Hearts squad duly left the pitch, before the end of stoppage time, with the game never restarted. They headed immediately back to Tynecastle Park under police escort.
“Heart of Midlothian utterly condemns the shameful scenes at Celtic Park this afternoon which have, once again, embarrassed Scottish football,” said a club statement.
“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.” A line of stewards keeps fans apart after the pitch invasion at Celtic Park.
These words came almost five hours after the match finished. Celtic and the Scottish Professional Football League were yet to say anything on the situation at that point. Callum McGregor, the Celtic captain, shrugged off the pitch invasion while the title-winning manager Martin O’Neill said he was unaware of Hearts players being targeted.
“I’m not pleading the fifth amendment, I don’t know at the end of the day but if some Hearts players have been accosted then it’s just not right at all,” O’Neill said. “I thought the game wasn’t over so I was trying to push some of our fans off the pitch. There was a lot of commotion in the tunnel. I’m not pushing it to the side, it is something people will have to look at.”
O’Neill explained the fourth official had told him there remained a minute to play but that when the Hearts manager Derek McInnes shook his hand and offered congratulations, he assumed the match was finished.
Back in Edinburgh, Hearts players were afforded a rousing reception from supporters having come agonisingly close to a first title since 1960. There has been no Scottish champion other than Celtic or Rangers since 1985.
“Our players were denied the opportunity to thank our magnificent fans – sensational to a person – for their backing this afternoon and all season long,” Hearts added. “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.”
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