Hearts slam 'disgraceful' pitch invasion and report 'serious' abuse at Celtic Park
TL;DR
Hearts condemned a pitch invasion at Celtic Park after their 3-1 loss, reporting serious physical and verbal abuse towards their players. The incident occurred as Celtic celebrated winning the Scottish Premiership title.
Key points
- Hearts reported serious abuse after a pitch invasion at Celtic Park
- The invasion followed Celtic's 3-1 win over Hearts
- Players were confronted by fans celebrating the title
- Hearts called the incident disgraceful and embarrassing for Scottish football
Hearts say their players and staff have reported "serious physical and verbal abuse" following the "shameful", "unacceptable" and "disgraceful" pitch invasion at Celtic Park after the home side's 3-1 win.
Moments after Callum Osmand's goal wrapped up the Scottish Premiership title for Celtic, a number of home fans ran on to the pitch to celebrate.
Several confronted the crestfallen Hearts players, who were ushered down the tunnel by club officials concerned for their safety.
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However, the Jambos have revealed some of their team were caught up in the scenes that they say have "embarrassed Scottish football".
Hearts added that due to the "menacing and threatening atmosphere inside the stadium," they had to leave, still in their match kits, within 20 minutes of the full-time whistle. Meanwhile, inside, the Celtic players and vast majority of supporters were waiting for the trophy lift.
Image: Hearts' Cameron Devlin looks dejected at the full-time whistle
The club added that they are in contact with Police Scotland, and "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".
In a statement, the Tynecastle Park club added that "the safety of our staff was our prime focus during these unacceptable scenes", meaning they were not able to take part in post-match media duties, nor thank the 752 away fans inside Parkhead.
Also See:
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Sky Sports News have contacted the SPFL, Police Scotland and Celtic for comment.
Image: There were 752 Hearts fans inside Celtic Park for the title decider
Hearts statement in full
Heart of Midlothian utterly condemns the shameful scenes at Celtic Park this afternoon which have, once again, embarrassed Scottish football.
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.
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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.
McFadden and Sutton hit out at full-time scenes
Former Scotland striker James McFadden said on Sky Sports: "This is unacceptable. The players should be safe on the football pitch. You do not want to see it. There will always be people spoiling it for everyone else.
"You can hear the reaction from the majority of the Celtic fans in here with the fans on the pitch, the booing.
"You don't want to see it. It's a game of football, you have got two teams that have earned the right to go toe-to-toe on a day like this, and the winner emerges with the trophy. Hearts have played their part by a huge stretch, and you don't want to see overspill of fans.
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"I understand the emotion of the occasion; you have a right to celebrate but you can't cross the line. If that is right that Hearts players have been assaulted, that is absolutely unacceptable."
Sky Sports' Chris Sutton added: "There's no place for it. You can imagine how the Hearts players felt after such a long season and then losing at the end."
O'Neill: Officials need to look at it
When asked about the scenes after the game, Celtic boss Martin O'Neill 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.
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The moment Callum Osmand sealed the title for Celtic against Hearts
"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."
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Q&A
What happened during the pitch invasion at Celtic Park?
After Celtic's 3-1 victory over Hearts, home fans invaded the pitch, confronting Hearts players and causing safety concerns.
What kind of abuse did Hearts players report after the match?
Hearts players and staff reported serious physical and verbal abuse during the pitch invasion at Celtic Park.
How did Hearts respond to the pitch invasion incident?
Hearts described the pitch invasion as 'disgraceful' and stated it has embarrassed Scottish football.
What led to the pitch invasion at Celtic Park?
The invasion occurred moments after Callum Osmand's goal secured the Scottish Premiership title for Celtic.
