Celtic Release Sunday Night Statement

Celtic F.C. have released a statement on Sunday evening addressing the pitch invasion that followed Saturday’s dramatic title-winning victory over Hearts at Celtic Park.

The Hoops clinched a record 56th league title after coming from behind to beat Hearts 3-1 in a final-day showdown that delivered one of the most dramatic finishes to a Scottish Premiership seasons ever.

But the celebrations after the third goal were overshadowed by supporters entering the field of play as Celtic secured five-in-a-row in front of a packed Celtic Park.

In a statement released by the club on Sunday evening, Celtic praised the supporters for their backing across the campaign while also condemning the scenes that unfolded at the end of the game.

The statement read: “Everyone at the Club congratulates Martin, our players and all our staff on delivering the club’s 56th Scottish league title and a thrilling climax to the season backed by a magnificent support.

“We thank Celtic fans for everything they have done to help the team over the line.

“The Club regrets that our victory over Hearts was followed by a number of individuals entering the field of play.

“We again emphasise that there is no justification for this behaviour which, for the vast majority of Celtic supporters, only detracts from the joy of such occasions.

“Celtic will co-operate fully with any investigation and with the SPFL in their own processes.

“We also apologise to Hearts for the situation encountered by their players and staff at the conclusion of the game, and for the fact that these events prevented them from saluting their own supporters at the end of an enthralling campaign, to which they have contributed so much.”

While pitch invasions are strongly discouraged and almost certain to bring scrutiny from the authorities and the SPFL, there is also a sense that the emotion of the moment took over for many supporters after such a dramatic title triumph.

The footage circulating so far appears to show scenes of jubilation more than organised aggression, with many fans simply rushing towards the celebrations after one of the most emotionally charged afternoons Celtic Park has ever witnessed.

That said, Hearts have alleged serious incidents involving some of their players and staff following the full-time whistle. Those claims will rightly be treated seriously by Celtic, the authorities and Scottish football’s governing bodies.

At this stage, it is important that any investigation establishes exactly what took place rather than conclusions being drawn purely from the chaos of the moment or the emotion surrounding the occasion.

The SPFL have already confirmed the match was completed and not abandoned despite the scenes at full-time.

For Celtic, the focus now turns towards the outcome of the investigations and whether the club face any sanctions after scenes that slightly dulled what was an unforgettable day purely centred on Martin O’Neill’s remarkable title-winning rescue mission.