HEARTS have released a strongly worded statement about Wednesday nights debacle which saw Celtic fans locked out of the game until after kick off.

The statement, released to the media and published by RecordSport lays the blame firmly at the door of Celtic fans with Hearts insisting it was ticketless Celtic supporters and unruly fans who stopped the flow through the turnstiles on the night.

Pictures looking close to a dangerous crush emerged on the night with Celtic fans who had turned up 45 minute before kick off only getting in just in time for kick off while fans who turned up later weren’t so fortunate.

Here is the full statement.

“As is commonplace for Category C matches, Hearts officials were in constant dialogue with their Celtic counterparts and Police Scotland when visiting fans entered the stadium prior to last night’s Ladbrokes Premiership fixture at Tynecastle Park.

“At no point were any concerns raised by any party with regards to ingress.

“When supporters do not allow sufficient time to enter the stadium, nor adhere to the host club’s safety measures, then delays can occur.

“What does not help these situations is stewards’ time being taken up with having to deal with away fans attempting to enter the stadium without a valid match ticket.

“Where overcrowding did occur, it was down to a large section of the Celtic support failing to comply with stewards’ instructions inside the stadium.

“The decision was taken on safety grounds not to attempt to enforce these supporters in Sections Lower J, K and L to move to their designated seats, and the club would like to thank Police Scotland for their support on this matter and throughout last night’s match.”

Utterly unacceptable by Hearts to pin the blame on the Celtic support and even blame fans for not getting to Edinburgh sooner on a Wednesday night after work in rush hour traffic.

Celtic must act to make sure Hearts sort out their own issues and not put the blame with the supporters attempting to enter the stadium.

The Scottish Champions gave the fans a 2-0 victory to enjoy in the end up but the security and this statement from Hearts is shameless.

4 COMMENTS

  1. From the top to the bottom, Hearts Stink. Ms Budge and her staff are drowning in the mire. She and her cronies couldn’t run a school team. The fact they run a pub team is evident. Last night Hearts display was why they are bottom of the league. Smith was running around rabid, leaving his mark on every player. Halkett is another moron, clugger of the first deegree, Dumm the frenchman, is another of the vanarama league players. Hearts are in a hole without a shovel. None of them except the goalie is a player.
    As to the new manager, buy all means have them shut down the opposition, but get real, EIGHT players up the park when Celtic broke and scored. Staying up, playing like this, you’ve NO CHANCE, Stranraer is nice place i’m told, enjoy!

  2. Totally expected Jambos to be up for last nights game despite their poor form so very happy with the result tho really should have been more which is becoming a common theme recently

    Always like Ntcham in starting line up.

    Pressure cranked up on Sevco-hopefully Hibs can take points off them tomorrow-we win next 2 games-beat Sevco on 29th & its 10 in a row!

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