Police Scotland have vowed to take “robust and swift action” against anybody found to have committed criminality after football fans invaded the pitch following the Celtic’s Premiership title win.
Following the championship-securing goal by Callum Osmand in the eighth minute of stoppage time, Celtic fans flooded onto the pitch and subjected Hearts’ players and staff to “serious physical and verbal abuse,” the Edinburgh club said in a statement released on Saturday evening.
“If any player, or indeed any member of the public, has been assaulted on that pitch, and there is criminality, we will take robust and swift action,” assistant chief constable Mark Sutherland said, as he confirmed an investigation is ongoing.
“The club (Celtic) are responsible for safety and security and the planning of the stadium. Police provide a supporting role in that to look at any criminality, any policing response that is required, and we are continuing to do that.
“So, if there is any criminality, whether that be the allegations of assault against Hearts players or anything else, then our post investigation will pick that up, and we will take the most robust action possible.”
Asked if there had been any arrests relating to the pitch invasion, ACC Sutherland said: “Not as yet. And that remains ongoing as we work through with partners today.”
Christian Borchgrevink, an unused substitute for the Jambos, told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang in a telephone interview that: “People got worried. I was on the bench and we ran out to shield the others.
“Everyone eventually made it back in unharmed, but with a little blood here and there.”
After the match, around 3,000 people made their way to the Trongate area of the city, where officers faced “significant levels of disorder”.
In a statement released on Saturday, Police Scotland said “missiles, including glass bottles, were thrown at them when assisting with a medical emergency,” leaving officers injured.
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) released a statement on Sunday afternoon saying: “We utterly condemn the scenes which saw a number of Celtic supporters encroach onto the field of play.
“We await the report of our match delegate regarding any specific incidents that took place but, regardless, supporters entering the field of play in any circumstances is wholly unacceptable and puts those participating and working at a match at risk.
“We urge anyone with information about any alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland.”
In a statement, Heart of Midlothian said it “utterly condemns the shameful scenes… which have, once again, embarrassed Scottish football”.
It added that the players and staff were forced to leave the Celtic Park stadium due to the “menacing and threatening atmosphere” created when thousands of fans stormed the pitch after Celtic’s third goal.
“The pitch invasion caused a chaotic end and nobody seemed to know whether or not the match had been brought to a finish,” Hearts said in a statement.
However, the SPFL confirmed that the referee made clear the match had ended and “had not been abandoned”.
