Scandal erupts after Celtic's championship win. Hearts captain attacked by fans right on the pitch
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
Celtic's title celebrations in Scotland were marred by a major scandal. After the final whistle of the match against Hearts, chaos erupted on the pitch: fans stormed the field, and visiting players were attacked.
The match ended with a 3-1 victory for Celtic. The championship was decided in this very game. Hearts only needed a draw or a win, and they struck first through a goal from captain Lawrence Shankland. However, after the break, the hosts turned the game around: Arne Engels leveled the score, while late goals from Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmond secured both the win and the championship for Celtic.
The situation quickly spiraled out of control, with Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland at the center of the incident. He was physically assaulted by fans and managed to land a punch on one of them himself. Footage shows the player trying to defend himself before being escorted off the pitch by police officers.
Hearts released a strong statement, calling the events a disgrace for Scottish football. The club also announced it has already begun cooperating with Scottish police and is conducting its own investigation. Due to the situation, players and staff were forced to leave the stadium urgently, unable to fulfill their post-match media obligations.
