The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic fans during their title-winning game against Hearts and their previous win at Motherwell.
Celtic fans flocked to the pitch at Celtic Park after Callum Osmand scored in the 97th minute to beat Hearts 3-1 in the title decider, with the Boys denying their visitors a first league title since 1960.
Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom said some of their players had been abused by Celtic fans. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said the claim was “unproven”.
Hearts players and staff quickly left the pitch without doing any media work, with the club releasing a statement condemning the “disgraceful scenes” which had “disgraced Scottish football”.
Those scenes came three days after Celtic fans stormed the pitch at Fir Park in celebration of Kelechi Iheanacho’s controversial last-gasp penalty, which earned O’Neill’s men a 3-2 win after Sam Nicholson was penalized for a costly handball.
The Scottish Football Association’s Key Match Incidents panel ruled that decision was wrong, and the SPFL will now look into the disruption associated with the dramatic end to a memorable campaign.
An SPFL statement read: “The Scottish Professional Football League has today opened a number of disciplinary investigations following the events of recent SPFL matches, including this month’s title-deciding matches between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hamilton Academical.
“The 2025/26 season has been an unprecedented season with record-breaking action, drama down to the last day at every level, and a level of international interest in Scottish football that has not been seen in the SPFL era. The majority of fans who attended SPFL games did so with the love and loyalty that makes Scottish football unique and a credit to their clubs and the SPFL has the highest level of football in Europe. The match day experience is important.” to the continued success of Scottish football It is therefore important that all fans, players, and those who work at matches, feel safe when they attend.
“In recent seasons, there have been numerous incidents at SPFL matches where objects have been thrown at players or staff members, organized pyrotechnic displays have occurred, and/or mass attacks have occurred.
“These figures do not include the final days of the season and the SPFL can confirm that the following matches are being investigated under SPFL Rules H36 and H37:
- Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Hamilton Academical – Saturday 2 May 2026
- Motherwell v Celtic – Wednesday 13th May 2026
- Hamilton Academical v Clyde – Friday 15 May 2026
- Celtic v Heart of Midlothian – Saturday 16 May 2026
- Stenhousemuir v Alloa Athletic – Saturday 16 May 2026
“In addition to these disciplinary processes, there is an ongoing need for all stakeholders to work together to tackle the challenges of Unacceptable Behavior at matches, including pitch trespassing and pyrotechnic use. The SPFL is fully involved in the Scottish Government’s consultation on football ban orders and looks forward to the next steps in that process.”
