The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) has opened disciplinary proceedings into pitch invasions by Celtic fans during their title-winning game against Hearts and their prior victory at Motherwell.
Celtic fans poured onto the pitch at Celtic Park after Callum Osmand scored in the 97th minute to wrap up a 3-1 win over Hearts in the title decider, with the Bhoys denying their visitors a first league crown since 1960.
Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom claimed that some of their players were assaulted by Celtic fans. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said that claim “has not been proved”.
The Hearts players and staff immediately left the stadium without conducting any media duties, with the club subsequently releasing a statement that condemned the “shameful scenes” that “embarrassed Scottish football”.
Those scenes came three days after Celtic fans invaded the pitch at Fir Park in celebration of a hugely controversial last-gasp penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho, which secured a 3-2 win for O’Neill’s men after Sam Nicholson was penalised for an extremely dubious handball.
The Scottish Football Association’s Key Match Incidents panel has ruled that decision to be incorrect, and the SPFL will now look into the disorder surrounding a dramatic end to a memorable campaign.
A SPFL statement read: “The Scottish Professional Football League has today opened several disciplinary investigations following incidents at recent SPFL matches, including this month’s title-deciding matches between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hamilton Academical.
“Season 2025/26 was a season like no other with record-breaking attendances, drama to the final day in every division, and a level of international interest in Scottish football not seen before in the SPFL era. The vast majority of supporters that attended SPFL matches did so with the passion and loyalty that makes Scottish football unique and were a credit to their clubs and the wider game. The SPFL has the highest attendances per capita of any league in Europe and the match-day experience is critical for the continued success of Scottish football. It is therefore essential that all supporters, players, and those working at matches, feel safe when attending.
“In recent seasons, there have been a number of incidents at SPFL matches where objects have been thrown at players or members of staff, orchestrated pyrotechnic displays have taken place, and/or mass pitch incursions have occurred. In season 2025/26 the SPFL concluded 11 disciplinary processes against eight clubs for such incidents.
“These statistics do not include the final match 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 13 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 a continuing need for all stakeholders to work together to address the challenges of Unacceptable Conduct at matches, including pitch encroachments and pyrotechnic use. The SPFL has engaged fully in the Scottish Government’s consultation on football banning orders and awaits the next steps in that process.”
