Hearts condemn ‘shameful’ abuse of players and staff after Celtic defeat

Hearts person issued a connection castigating nan “shameful” and “disgraceful” scenes which marred nan conclusion to nan Scottish Premiership’s title title astatine Celtic Park. The Edinburgh nine has emphasised “deeply disturbing” curen of players and staff. Celtic’s last-day victory had secured their 5th title successful succession.

Callum Osmand’s extremity for Celtic, nan 3rd successful a 3-1 win, fuelled a wide transportation penetration which saw Hearts players antagonised and confronted. Those who entered nan transportation were audibly booed by those successful nan stands.

The Hearts squad duly near nan pitch, earlier nan extremity of stoppage time, pinch nan crippled ne'er restarted. They headed instantly backmost to Tynecastle Park nether constabulary escort.

“Heart of Midlothian utterly condemns nan shameful scenes astatine Celtic Park this day which have, erstwhile again, embarrassed Scottish football,” said a nine statement.

“Reports of superior beingness and verbal maltreatment towards our players and staff, some connected nan transportation and elsewhere, are profoundly disturbing. We are investigating this afloat and are successful speech pinch Police Scotland. We will make nary further remark astatine this clip different than to opportunity that it is wholly unacceptable that our players and unit were put successful that situation.

“Given nan menacing and threatening ambiance wrong nan stadium, our full unit had nary replacement but to time off immediately, without undertaking post-match media duties. To our media partners, we apologise but nan information of our unit was our premier attraction during these unacceptable scenes. The transportation penetration caused a chaotic extremity and cipher seemed to cognize whether aliases not nan lucifer had been brought to a finish.”

A statement of stewards keeps fans isolated aft nan transportation penetration astatine Celtic Park. Photograph: Jamie Johnston/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock

These words came almost 5 hours aft nan lucifer finished. Celtic and nan Scottish Professional Football League were yet to opportunity thing connected nan business astatine that point. Callum McGregor, nan Celtic captain, shrugged disconnected nan transportation penetration while nan title-winning head Martin O’Neill said he was unaware of Hearts players being targeted.

“I’m not pleading nan 5th amendment, I don’t cognize astatine nan extremity of nan time but if immoderate Hearts players person been accosted past it’s conscionable not correct astatine all,” O’Neill said. “I thought nan crippled wasn’t complete truthful I was trying to push immoderate of our fans disconnected nan pitch. There was a batch of commotion successful nan tunnel. I’m not pushing it to nan side, it is thing group will person to look at.”

O’Neill explained nan 4th charismatic had told him location remained a infinitesimal to play but that erstwhile nan Hearts head Derek McInnes shook his manus and offered congratulations, he assumed nan lucifer was finished.

Back successful Edinburgh, Hearts players were afforded a rousing reception from supporters having travel agonisingly adjacent to a first title since 1960. There has been nary Scottish champion different than Celtic aliases Rangers since 1985.

An affectional Cameron Devlin (left) and Frankie Kent locomotion past fans arsenic they get astatine Tynecastle Park aft nan match. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

“Our players were denied nan opportunity to convey our magnificent fans – sensational to a personification – for their backing this day and each play long,” Hearts added. “We expect nan strongest action imaginable to beryllium taken by nan footballing authorities successful nan interests of protecting nan information of players and supporters, and nan integrity of our game.

“This play has seen Hearts seizure nan imagination of shot fans, not only successful Scotland, but nan world over. We salary tribute to Derek McInnes, his staff, nan first squad and nan supporters, who person done nan nine proud this season. None of them deserved nan disgraceful scenes that unfolded.”