Celtic won the William Hill Premiership yesterday in the most dramatic of circumstances, and the SPFL moved today to condemn the scenes that followed when a number of supporters came onto the field of play. The league also said the match referee had already informed it that the game had ended and had not been abandoned before the trophy was handed over.
A spokesperson said the league sent congratulations to Celtic and commiserations to Heart of Midlothian after an incredible campaign, while also thanking the referee and his match officials for keeping their heads on a day of high tension. The statement came amid speculation about how the title-clinching game concluded, but the SPFL said it had been told the match was over before the presentation began.
The title finish drew millions of viewers on Sky Sports and around the world, and the SPFL said yesterday’s game showed off the very best of the Scottish game and the drama and excitement it is famed for. That scale mattered because the final whistle was not just a Glasgow moment. It was the latest entry in a title race that had already grabbed attention, including in coverage such as Scottish Premiership Winners chase starts fast as Celtic test Hearts early and Scottish Premiership: Hearts edge closer as Celtic survive late drama.
But the day also left the league dealing with a sharp safety concern. The SPFL said it utterly condemned the scenes involving Celtic supporters encroaching on the pitch, and warned that entering the field of play in any circumstances is wholly unacceptable because it puts those participating and working at a match at risk. It added that it was waiting for a report from its match delegate on any specific incidents.
The league went further, noting that entering the pitch in England and Wales has been a criminal offence since 1991, and urged anyone with information about any alleged criminal activity to contact Police Scotland. That leaves the football rather than the celebration to define the next phase of the story: whether any individual incidents from the title day become a police matter, and how the sport responds to behaviour that overshadowed an otherwise memorable finish.
