Police Scotland is investigating alleged assaults on Hearts players during a pitch invasion at Celtic Park after the home side clinched the Scottish Premiership title, with senior officers vowing “robust and swift action” against anyone found to have committed criminality.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and that police are liaising with Heart of Midlothian to determine whether players were assaulted. “If any player, or indeed any member of the public, has been assaulted on that pitch, and there is criminality, we will take robust and swift action,” he said. He stressed that Celtic, as the host club, is responsible for safety and security inside the stadium, while police provide a “supporting role” focused on criminal conduct. “So, if there is any criminality, whether that be the allegations of assault against Hearts players or anything else, then our post investigation will pick that up, and we will take the most robust action possible,” ACC Sutherland added.
Police investigation and city centre disorder
Initially, no arrests had been made in connection with the pitch invasion, ACC Sutherland told reporters. However, by Sunday, Police Scotland had arrested 14 people: 10 in the Trongate area of Glasgow and four at the stadium. Offences recorded include mobbing and rioting, resisting arrest, assaulting police officers, and possession of offensive weapons. Pyrotechnics and alcohol were also seized. Officers are reviewing CCTV footage and gathering statements as part of the continuing inquiry.
The disorder extended beyond the stadium. After the match, around 3,000 people gathered in the Trongate area, where police faced “significant levels of disorder,” according to a Police Scotland statement. Officers attending a medical emergency within the crowd were targeted with missiles, including glass bottles, and sustained injuries. Two police officers suffered serious injuries — one a “significant” facial injury, the other severe bruising. Three members of the public also required hospital treatment. Police Scotland declared the events a “major incident” and set up a portal for the public to submit images and video footage that may assist the investigation.
ACC Sutherland said police are working through evidence with partners and repeated the force’s commitment to taking the strongest possible action against anyone identified as responsible for criminal acts.
Pitch invasion and alleged assaults on players
The trouble began when Celtic won the title with a 3-1 victory over Hearts. The decisive goal was scored by Callum Osmand in the eighth minute of stoppage time, prompting thousands of fans to storm the pitch. The match was brought to an early end with approximately 30 seconds of stoppage time remaining. The Scottish Professional Football League later confirmed that the referee had declared the match over and that it had not been abandoned.
Heart of Midlothian said its players and staff were subjected to “serious physical and verbal abuse” on the pitch and elsewhere, describing a “menacing and threatening atmosphere” that forced the team to leave Celtic Park immediately after the game. Players departed still wearing their kits, and Hearts staff did not carry out media duties. The club’s captain, Lawrence Shankland, was reportedly confronted by fans. According to claims, he was punched by one supporter and another waved their hands in his face, leading him to push the fan away.
Christian Borchgrevink, an unused substitute for Hearts, told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang in a telephone interview: “People got worried. I was on the bench and we ran out to shield the others. Everyone eventually made it back in unharmed, but with a little blood here and there.” The club stated that the pitch invasion caused a “chaotic end” and that “nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish.”
Club and league condemnations
Heart of Midlothian issued a statement “utterly condemning the shameful scenes… which have, once again, embarrassed Scottish football.” The club said it is seeking the “strongest action possible” from footballing authorities. Hearts had led the league table for much of the season and were on the verge of winning their first Scottish top-flight title since 1960, only for Celtic to deny them with this victory — Celtic’s fifth consecutive title and 14th in 15 seasons.
The Scottish Professional Football League said it “utterly condemns the scenes which saw a number of Celtic supporters encroach onto the field of play.” It noted that entering the pitch is a criminal offence in England and Wales since 1991, and emphasised that supporter encroachment “is wholly unacceptable and puts those participating and working at a match at risk.” The SPFL urged anyone with information about alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland and said it awaits the report of its match delegate regarding specific incidents.
Celtic issued a statement apologising to Hearts, asserting that there is “no justification” for the behaviour of the fans and pledging full cooperation with any investigations. Celtic manager Martin O’Neill was reportedly unaware that Hearts players had been targeted. The incident has also led to renewed calls for stronger action to protect player safety, with Police Scotland previously accusing Celtic of failing to put plans in place for official celebrations. A previous pitch invasion during a Scottish Cup quarter-final between Celtic and Rangers had already resulted in arrests and investigations.
