The Scottish Skilled Soccer League (SPFL) has opened disciplinary proceedings into pitch invasions by Celtic followers throughout their title-winning recreation in opposition to Hearts and their prior victory at Motherwell.
Celtic followers poured onto the pitch at Celtic Park after Callum Osmand scored within the 97th minute to wrap up a 3-1 win over Hearts within the title decider, with the Bhoys denying their guests a primary league crown since 1960.
Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom claimed that a few of their gamers have been assaulted by Celtic followers. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill mentioned that declare “has not been proved”.
The Hearts gamers and employees instantly left the stadium with out conducting any media duties, with the membership subsequently releasing a press release that condemned the “shameful scenes” that “embarrassed Scottish soccer”.
These scenes got here three days after Celtic followers invaded the pitch at Fir Park in celebration of a vastly controversial last-gasp penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho, which secured a 3-2 win for O’Neill’s males after Sam Nicholson was penalised for an especially doubtful handball.
The Scottish Soccer Affiliation’s Key Match Incidents panel has dominated that call to be incorrect, and the SPFL will now look into the dysfunction surrounding a dramatic finish to a memorable marketing campaign.
A SPFL statement learn: “The Scottish Skilled Soccer League has as we speak opened a number of disciplinary investigations following incidents at current SPFL matches, together with this month’s title-deciding matches between Celtic and Coronary heart of Midlothian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hamilton Academical.
“Season 2025/26 was a season like no different with record-breaking attendances, drama to the ultimate day in each division, and a stage of worldwide curiosity in Scottish soccer not seen earlier than within the SPFL period. The overwhelming majority of supporters that attended SPFL matches did so with the eagerness and loyalty that makes Scottish soccer distinctive and have been a credit score to their golf equipment and the broader recreation. The SPFL has the very best attendances per capita of any league in Europe and the match-day expertise is crucial for the continued success of Scottish soccer. It’s subsequently important that each one supporters, gamers, and people working at matches, really feel secure when attending.
“In current seasons, there have been numerous incidents at SPFL matches the place objects have been thrown at gamers or members of employees, orchestrated pyrotechnic shows have taken place, and/or mass pitch incursions have occurred. In season 2025/26 the SPFL concluded 11 disciplinary processes in opposition to eight golf equipment for such incidents.
“These statistics don’t embrace the ultimate match days of the season and the SPFL can verify that the next matches are being investigated beneath SPFL Guidelines H36 and H37:
- Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Hamilton Academical – Saturday 2 Might 2026
- Motherwell v Celtic – Wednesday 13 Might 2026
- Hamilton Academical v Clyde – Friday 15 Might 2026
- Celtic v Coronary heart of Midlothian – Saturday 16 Might 2026
- Stenhousemuir v Alloa Athletic – Saturday 16 Might 2026
“Along with these disciplinary processes, there’s a persevering with want for all stakeholders to work collectively to deal with the challenges of Unacceptable Conduct at matches, together with pitch encroachments and pyrotechnic use. The SPFL has engaged totally within the Scottish Authorities’s session on soccer banning orders and awaits the subsequent steps in that course of.”
