Police chief vows ‘swift and robust action’ after officers attacked during Celtic title celebrations
Police Scotland have vowed “robust and swift action” against anyone found guilty of offending after football fans invaded the pitch after Celtic won the Premiership title.
Celtic fans descended on the pitch after Callum Osmand’s eighth-minute title-clinching goal and subjected Hearts players and staff to “serious physical and verbal abuse”, the Edinburgh club said in a statement on Saturday evening.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland confirmed the investigation was ongoing and said: “If any player or any member of the public was attacked on that pitch and there is criminal offence, we will take firm and swift action.”
“The club (Celtic) is responsible for the safety and security and planning of the stadium. “The police provide a supporting role to look after any crime with any necessary police response and we continue to do so.
“So if there is any wrongdoing, whether it be allegations of assault against Hearts players or something else, then our subsequent investigation will identify that and we will take the most robust action possible.”
Asked if there had been any arrests in connection with the attack on the field, ACC Sutherland said: “Not yet. And that continues today as we work with our partners.”
Jambos’ unused substitute Christian Borchgrevink told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang in a telephone interview: “People were worried. I was on the bench and we ran out to protect the others.”
“In the end, everyone managed to get back unharmed, but there was some blood here and there.”
Following the match, around 3,000 people made their way to the Trongate area of the city, where police officers faced “significant disorder”.
In a statement published on Saturday, Police Scotland said officers were injured when “missiles, including glass bottles, were thrown at them while they were assisting with a medical emergency”.
The Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) released a statement on Sunday afternoon: “We fully condemn the scenes of a number of Celtic fans encroaching on the field of play.
“We are awaiting our match delegate’s report on the specific events that have occurred, but regardless, it is completely unacceptable for fans to enter the field of play under any circumstances and puts match attendees and match staff at risk.
“We would urge anyone with information about any alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland.”
Heart of Midlothian said in a statement that it “fully condemns the disgraceful scenes that have once again brought Scottish football to shame”.
The statement stated that players and staff had to leave the Celtic Park stadium due to the “threatening and menacing atmosphere” created when thousands of fans stormed the field after Celtic’s third goal.
“The invasion of the pitch led to a chaotic ending and no-one seemed to know whether the match was over or not,” Hearts said in a statement. he said.
However, the SPFL confirmed that the referee made it clear that the match was over and “was not abandoned”.
