Celtic and Hearts players taken off during pitch invasion, pundits slam “unacceptable” scenes

Celtic and Hearts gamers needed to be taken off throughout a pitch invasion, pundits took to slam the “unacceptable” scenes which unfolded.

Hearts wanted to simply keep away from defeat they usually win their first Scottish title in 66 years, breaking a run of 41 years when solely Celtic and Rangers have lifted it.

Coronary heart of Midlothian had gone forward by Lawrence Shankland on 43 minutes, however Arne Engels levelled for Celtic simply earlier than half time with a penalty (45+3′ pen).

Derek McInnes’s facet might solely maintain on till the 88th minute, when Benjamin Nygren put Celtic forward, heartbreak for Hearts, then Callum Osmand’s 98th minute objective sealed the win, Martin O’Neill’s fourth league title as supervisor of Celtic.

Sadly, as per BBC Sport’s dwell weblog, ugly scenes following that third objective, with BBC Sportscene pundit Allan Preston saying a few of these Celtic followers streaming onto the pitch have been concentrating on Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.

Hearts gamers are rushed OFF the pitch as Celtic followers have a good time their 14th title in 15 YEARS… pic.twitter.com/1XAxvv24Fh https://t.co/OdfiK0XzBY

— george (@StokeyyG2) Might 16, 2026

🗣️ “The gamers needs to be protected on the soccer pitch. There’s at all times folks that spoil it for everybody else.”

James McFadden and Chris Sutton on the “unacceptable” scenes as followers invaded the pitch ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/qDDsY59Imv

— Sky Sports activities Scotland (@ScotlandSky) Might 16, 2026

Sky Sports activities presenter Eilidh Barbour stated after the sport, per Each day Report: “They [The Hearts players] have left of their full package, they didn’t get modified and you may perceive.

“But additionally, the scenes on the finish the place supporters got here on the pitch, we’re listening to experiences that there have been some assaults in direction of Hearts gamers.

“That’s one thing that we don’t need to see from supporters on the pitch at any time in soccer. It’s soccer on the finish of the day.”

James McFadden, on punditry for Sky Sports activities, stated: “You’ll be able to hear the response from the vast majority of the Celtic followers in right here with the followers on the pitch, the booing.

“You don’t need to see it. It’s a sport of soccer, you’ve got two groups which have earned the suitable to go toe-to-toe on a day like this, and the winner emerges with the trophy. Hearts have performed their half by an enormous stretch, and also you don’t need to see overspill of followers.

“I perceive the emotion of the event, you might have a proper to have a good time however you’ll be able to’t cross the road. If that’s proper that Hearts gamers have been assaulted that’s completely unacceptable.”

McFadden added: “Going as much as gamers…I get feelings are working excessive, however the gamers needs to be protected on the soccer pitch. There’ll at all times be individuals who spoil it for everyone else.

“You heard the vast majority of followers in right here [Celtic Park] booing the followers that had gone on to the pitch, as a result of they know that you just assist your staff and are overjoyed to win one other title, however do it in the suitable method. That’s unacceptable for me. A participant needs to be protected of a soccer pitch and never surrounded by stewards, Lawrence Shankland is nearly surrounded by his teammates to verify nothing occurs to him. That’s unacceptable.”

Chris Sutton replied: “I completely agree. You’ll be able to think about how the gamers would have felt after such an extended season and dropping it on the finish, the Celtic followers who bought concerned with the Hearts gamers have been fortunate they didn’t get a thump or two.”

🎙️ “That is bedlam!”

There was a pitch invasion after Celtic sealed their win over Hearts to say the Premiership title ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/ktrHAF2SSl

— Sky Sports activities Scotland (@ScotlandSky) Might 16, 2026

📽 The Hearts staff go away Celtic Park after 3-1 defeat to Celtic and lacking out on the Scottish Premiership title 💔#CelticFC #HeartsFC #ScottishPremiership pic.twitter.com/q9EtTuXwaB

— Each day Report Sport (@Record_Sport) Might 16, 2026

Watch new footage of Hearts gamers – nonetheless of their kits – boarding the staff bus simply moments after the ultimate whistle at Celtic Park 🎥 pic.twitter.com/i5I1yJpjPD

— Sky Sports activities Scotland (@ScotlandSky) Might 16, 2026

Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill tells Sky Sports activities: “I had a terrific facet then, a extremely nice facet. That staff received the matches for me and that’s what this staff has completed.

“They by no means gave up.

“I’m by no means certain about momentum as a result of it may well change instantly. When you’d requested me earlier than we performed Rangers if we might take it into the ultimate day, I’d have bitten your arm off.

“We made loads of errors, however there’s nice psychological braveness within the staff which has carried us over the road.

“I’m a bit-part in proceedings. They see me day-after-day the gamers, this previous man, and assume ‘what’s he doing right here?’

“I really feel rejuvenated. In October I used to be having a espresso on the Kings Street, having fun with retirement. I believed the times of me right here at Celtic Park lifting trophies have been nicely and really gone.”

[On whether he will be here next season]: “I simply don’t know. It takes its toll.

“I believed we would have been in a position to slip in a draw someplace [after the loss at Tannadice]but it surely wasn’t to be.

“I used to be on this very spot final season speaking to Brendan [Rodgers] about successful it and I used to be actually jealous. Not for one minute did I feel I’d be again right here.

“It has been actually sensational for me. I actually can’t consider it.

“It’s very straightforward to be patronising, however Hearts are the massive story of this season. They’re terrific, the supervisor has been incredible. It’s straightforward for me to say, however I hope I might have stated the identical if they’d taken the championship.”

📽 Devastated Hearts followers after dropping 3-1 to Celtic and lacking out on the Scottish Premiership title 💔#CelticFC #HeartsFC #ScottishPremiership pic.twitter.com/aIVNAOyohw

— Each day Report Sport (@Record_Sport) Might 16, 2026

Celtic’s Alistair Johnston stated to BBC Scotland: “Did I consider we have been going to be champions? Look, at this membership, till you’re mathematically out of it, you consider and that’s what we did.

“A month in the past, two months in the past, lots of people would have counted us out however we didn’t.

“For the previous month each sport has been a must-win, this didn’t really feel like a one-off as a result of the entire month has felt like a knockout tie.

“The double is on however we’ve bought a extremely tough match arising. We’re going to take pleasure in tonight and prepare to go once more subsequent week.”

Celtic captain Callum McGregor tells Sky Sports activities: “You place your coronary heart and soul into this job. You’ll be able to’t swap it off.

“It’s most likely been essentially the most the membership has needed to take care of. You’ll be able to’t do all of it by yourself, it’s a must to have eight or 9 senior gamers driving it.

“I did [feel it was coming]. You can really feel the power choosing up, we have been creating possibilities and had our bodies up the highest finish of the pitch.

“Credit score to the boys – they discovered a strategy to win the sport.

“So many late targets, so you might have that perception. Everybody has – fairly rightly – had a pop at us, but it surely’s good to reply that.

“The gamers rose to the event and located a strategy to get the job completed.

“All of the stress was on us once more. There’s a lot expectation, however someway you discover a method. I assume that’s the signal of champions.

“It’s coronary heart and need, that’s what wins you soccer matches.

“Hopefully we are able to use this as a catapult to get the membership again on observe. Our job is to ship titles and I’m happy we’ve managed to do our bit.”

Right here’s the social media response after Celtic and Hearts gamers have been taken off throughout a pitch invasion, and the pundits slam “unacceptable” scenes…

@wmwscgbm87: The man having a go at Shankland is definitely holding his fucking bairn as nicely. Jesus fucking Christ.

@ccfc_07: Good on that bald fella telling them to fuck off, absolute scum the remainder of them

@_rossferg: Honest play to that one supporter who appears to have abit of frequent sense and tries to get them away! As for that first clown along with his bairn in his arms a fucking imbecile of a person

@AbsoluteGinius: These “followers” needs to be banned and staff fined. The ultimate whistle hadn’t even blown. Nobody needs to be assaulted at work and gamers needs to be protected. That is an embarrassing finish to a terrific season. So happy with my staff @JamTarts We rocked the SFA institution and we’ll be again! ♥️

@p3ter1872: What number of pitch invasions is that for the animals now? That they had the cheek to lock a gaggle of followers out of Parkhead for security issues

@DarrenRoss13: Absolute cowards. Shat themselves when any Hearts participant really turned to face them.

@Davidaag1991: When you don’t need to see this, then the membership and their followers should be punished. The abandonment of a sport would usually end in a 3-0 outcome awarded in opposition to the staff of the offending followers.

@mrsRedViper842: It was solely Celtic followers don’t attempt cowl it up. They drained to assault shankland whereas he was at his work. That is disgraceful behaviour and never the primary time this season. Celtic should be held accountable for the actions of their followers

@DSH091995: If the sport is just not thought-about deserted due to the pitch invasion, then a precedent is ready that any set of followers can invade a pitch and have the sport ended, when forward on scoreline, with none punishment. Disgusting

Legally @JamTarts can take this to @ScottishFA and there may be nothing @CelticFC can do about it.

The foundations are legally binding. pic.twitter.com/Yyar1kA6By

— NaeBull (@NaeBull) Might 16, 2026