Hearts players ‘assaulted’ as team stormed out of Celtic Park minutes after defeat | Soccer | Sports

Hearts’ side did not remain at Celtic Park for long after the Scottish Premiership title decider descended into chaos. After Callum Osmund scored on the counter in the 98th minute, an invasion of the pitch ensued and Celtic won 3-1, clinching their fifth successive title. Hearts goalkeeper Michael Steinwender went into the corner looking for a vital equaliser, but the visitors could have won their first league title since 1960 if they had drawn. But Osmund ran down the pitch and scored, and jubilant fans stormed onto the Parkhead pitch in celebration.

Sky Sports later reported that some Hearts players were allegedly assaulted on the pitch, with manager Derek McInnes also receiving abuse from rival supporters. After the chaotic match, the Jumbos were photographed leaving Celtic’s home base in full gear aboard the team bus. In Glasgow, Hearts were left reeling despite Lawrence Shankland’s 43rd minute goal giving them a 1-0 lead. They topped the Scottish Premiership for much of the campaign.

Since the start of October, Hearts have spent 226 days at the top of the table compared to Celtic’s one day, and this comes after they beat the Edinburgh side to win their 56th title in history. Shankland’s opening goal in first-half stoppage time was canceled out by a penalty, and Arne Engels’ penalty allowed Daenen Maeda to put the home side ahead in the 87th minute.

Late goals from Maeda and Osmund gave Celtic a two-point lead over Hearts. And Hearts’ all-time top goalscorer, John Robertson, reacted on Sky Sports after seeing the team bus leave, saying: “They got a shot early and that’s it and they’ll go back to Tynecastle. If you look back at the season they had, it was a success. Those players did everything, that manager did everything, the fans did everything to get over the line and they just couldn’t get it done.”

“But what a season they’ve had. That’s no consolation for them right now. They’re going to be completely sick, they’re going to be completely gutted. No matter what other people say, there’s no consolation for what they’ve done. They’re going to be completely devastated.”

Sky Sports presenter Eilidh Barber said: “They (Hearts players) left in their full kit, they didn’t change clothes and that’s understandable. But we’ve also heard reports of assaults on Hearts players in the final scene when supporters came onto the pitch.”

“In football, that’s always what you don’t want to see from supporters on the pitch. That’s football, after all.”

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After the pitch invasion, referee Don Robertson sent the players off the pitch, but confusion ensued as the match was expected to restart after Osmund’s 98th minute. However, the match was not restarted and the home fans were left to celebrate the title once again.

Pundit James McFadden responded: “The reaction of the majority of Celtic fans here will be heard along with the booing of the fans on the pitch. You don’t want to see that. This is a football match and on a day like this you have two teams who have earned the right to play head to head and the winner emerges with the trophy.”

“Hearts have done a great job of playing their part and you don’t want to see the fans spilling out. I understand the emotion here and we have a right to celebrate but we can’t cross the line. If it’s true that Hearts players were assaulted then that’s completely unacceptable.”

“It’s going to take Hearts a long time to get over this situation, but they have to take a step back when they can. They pushed Celtic all the way and it was close, so that’s credit to the players and Derek McInnes.”

“I can understand emotions spilling onto the pitch, but I don’t accept it when it spills over to the players. Emotions run high, but players should be safe on the football pitch. There should never be a threat to safety. There will always be people who spoil it for others. The majority of the fans booed them on the pitch. That is unacceptable and should never happen.”

An elated Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill added: “It’s easy for me to be patronizing and sycophantic, but Hearts have been fantastic. They’re the big story of this season.”

“They were great and they deserve all the praise. Derek McInnes deserves manager of the year. He was great and so were Hearts.”