Hearts Condemn 'Shameful' Abuse of Players and Staff After Celtic Title Decider Hearts issued a strongly worded statement condemning the "shameful" and "disgraceful" behavior that marred the conclusion of the Scottish Premiership title race following their 3-1 defeat to Celtic at Celtic Park. The Edinburgh club described the treatment of its players and staff as "deeply disturbing" and called for urgent action from authorities to safeguard the integrity of Scottish football. The match, which secured Celtic’s fifth consecutive league title, ended in chaotic scenes that left Hearts players and staff in a vulnerable position. The incident unfolded after Callum O'Shaman’s goal for Celtic in the 88th minute sealed the victory. The celebration quickly turned violent as a mass pitch invasion erupted, with Hearts players and staff subjected to verbal and physical abuse from fans. The Hearts squad left the pitch before the end of stoppage time, with the game never officially restarted. They were escorted back to Tynecastle Park by police, having abandoned the match due to the hostile environment. In a statement, Hearts emphasized the "deeply disturbing" nature of the events, stating that reports of serious physical and verbal abuse toward players and staff were unacceptable. The club confirmed it was investigating the incident and in contact with Police Scotland. "We are in dialogue with Police Scotland and will make no further comment at this time other than to say that it is completely unacceptable that our players and staff were put in that situation," the statement read. The club also apologized to media partners for not allowing staff to conduct post-match media duties, citing safety concerns. "The safety of our staff was our prime focus during these unacceptable scenes," the statement added.#celtic #hearts #callum_oshaman #callum_mcgregor #martin_oneyne
