Celtic 3-1 Hearts: Guests say gamers, workers undergo ‘severe bodily and verbal abuse’ after ‘disgraceful’ Celtic Park pitch invasion

Hearts say their gamers and workers have reported “serious physical and verbal abuse” following the “shameful”, “unacceptable” and “disgraceful” pitch invasion at Celtic Park after the house facet’s 3-1 win.

Moments after Callum Osmand’s purpose wrapped up the Scottish Premiership title for Celtic, a lot of house followers ran on to the pitch to rejoice.

A number of confronted the crestfallen Hearts gamers, who had been ushered down the tunnel by membership officers involved for his or her security.

Nonetheless, the Jambos have revealed a few of their staff had been caught up within the scenes that they are saying have “embarrassed Scottish football”.

Hearts added that as a result of “menacing and threatening atmosphere inside the stadium,” they needed to depart, nonetheless of their match kits, inside 20 minutes of the full-time whistle. In the meantime, inside, the Celtic gamers and overwhelming majority of supporters had been ready for the trophy elevate.

The membership added that they’re in touch 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 an announcement, the Tynecastle Park membership added that “the safety of our staff was our prime focus during these unacceptable scenes”, which means they weren’t in a position to participate in post-match media duties, nor thank the 752 away followers inside Parkhead.

Sky Sports activities Information have contacted the SPFL, Police Scotland and Celtic for remark.

Hearts assertion in full

Coronary heart of Midlothian completely condemns the shameful scenes at Celtic Park this afternoon which have, as soon as once more, embarrassed Scottish soccer.

Studies of great bodily and verbal abuse in direction of our gamers and workers, each on the pitch and elsewhere, are deeply disturbing. We’re investigating this absolutely and are in dialogue with Police Scotland.

We’ll make no additional remark right now aside from to say that it’s fully unacceptable that our gamers and workers had been put in that scenario.

Given the menacing and threatening environment contained in the stadium, our whole workers had no different however to depart instantly, with out enterprise post-match media duties. To our media companions, we apologise however the security of our workers was our prime focus throughout these unacceptable scenes.

The pitch invasion prompted a chaotic finish and no one appeared to know whether or not or not the match had been dropped at a end. Our gamers had been then denied the chance to thank our magnificent followers – sensational to an individual – for his or her backing this afternoon and all season lengthy.

We count on the strongest motion doable to be taken by the footballing authorities within the pursuits of defending the security of gamers and supporters, and the integrity of our sport.

This season has seen Hearts seize the creativeness of soccer followers, not solely in Scotland, however the world over. We pay tribute to Derek McInnes, his workers, the primary staff and the supporters, who’ve accomplished the membership 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 stated on Sky Sports activities: “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 possibly can hear the response from nearly all of the Celtic followers in right here with the followers 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.

“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 activities’ 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: Officers want to take a look at it

When requested concerning the scenes after the sport, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill stated: “If some Hearts players have been accosted, then that’s just not right at all.

“I genuinely did not see the scenes on the finish as a result of I assumed the sport wasn’t over, so I am making an attempt to push a few of our followers off the pitch once more to play no matter’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.

“Clearly, there’s lots of commotion within the tunnel, so I do not know, however getting again to the purpose, if Hearts gamers have been accosted by a few of our followers, that is fairly severe. Truthfully, I am not pushing it to the facet, it’s going to be one thing that the officers or folks should take a look at.”