by Bill Heaney
Significant numbers of Celtic fans from West Dunbartonshire will have been involved in the after-match celebrations that saw Celtic win their fifth Premier League title in a row.
A statement from the police states that officers went into the crowd to assist with a medical emergency and were faced with significant levels of hostility, with bottles and other missiles thrown at them.
There are no reports so far of serious injuries to either police or spectators, but the police say they are now “taking decisive action to disperse the crowds.” However, there has been no evidence of that despite television coverage lasting for more than an hour after the final whistle.
The only photographic evidence of the police dealing with disorder was a sergeant putting his arms around the Hearts manager Derek McInness and shepherding him into the changing rooms at Celtic Park.
A short time later, photographs of the Hearts team bus and another bus were seen on television, driving the players and officials away from the ground and heading back towards Edinburgh.
Spectators congregating in front of the main grandstand were ordered to disperse — “For public safety reasons, all members of the public are being asked to leave the area,” Police Scotland said.
Social media was febrile with news that some of the Hearts players had been assaulted by spectators on the pitch after Don Robertson, the referee, amid confusion and celebrations following Celtic’s third goal, which put the outcome beyond doubt, blew the full-time whistle.
The Daily Record was online immediately to report their version of events – “Jubilant Celtic fans have descended on Glasgow’s Trongate area to celebrate the Hoops’ dramatic title win over Hearts.
“Martin O’Neill’s men scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to bring the Scottish Premiership trophy back to the East End of Glasgow for a fifth consecutive year.
“The game would finish 3-1 in favour of the Bhoys after goals from Engels, Maeda and Osmond cancelled out Lawrence Shankland’s opener.
“Now, supporters have taken the short trek from Parkhead into the city centre to revel in their 56th league title. The unorganised street party has become an annual tradition amongst the Celtic faithful since their Treble Treble bus parade in 2019.”
It added: “Metal cordons have been erected around several shops to prevent damage, as well as glass screens being removed from local bus stops.”
BBC Scotland’s report was headlined: ” Police pelted with bottles as Celtic fans celebrate Premiership title win.”
by Benjamin Russell of BBC Scotland News
Bottles and other missiles have been thrown at police as thousands of Celtic fans celebrated the club’s fifth successive Scottish Premiership title win.
Supporters gathered in the Trongate after a 3-1 win at Parkhead stadium dashed Heart of Midlothian’s dream of winning their first league trophy in 66 years.
Images from the scene showed lines of police with riot shields and one Celtic supporter with blood streaming from a head wound.
The match itself was one of the most highly anticipated clashes in recent Scottish footballing history.
Hearts only needed a draw to end the 40-year dominance of the Glasgow clubs, but two quick goals in the final minutes secured Celtic the win they required.
Ecstatic Celtic fans poured onto the pitch as the third goal went into the net.
BBC Sportscene pundit Allan Preston said some of the Celtic fans appeared to be targeting Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.
The match, which was approaching the end of the indicated eight minutes of added time, did not restart after the pitch invasion.
The Hearts players and staff made a hasty exit from the ground, with some players still in their match kit on the team bus as they headed back to Edinburgh.
Asked about reports that fans had assaulted Hearts players, Celtic boss Martin O’Neill said: “If some Hearts players have been accosted, then that’s just not right at all.
“I genuinely didn’t see the scenes at the end because I thought the game wasn’t over, so I’m trying to push some of our fans off the pitch again to play whatever’s left.”
Earlier, as his team lifted the trophy, O’Neill, now aged 74, said the Celtic players and coaching staff had “given me a reason to live”.
Celtic captain Callum McGregor praised the mentality of his players after everyone “wrote us off”.
“We knew we would get a chance for sure, this is the way this group is, they just keep going and going,” he said.
Many Celtic fans watched the game in public houses and clubs, among them Ian, who followed the match in Connolly’s — “That was exceptional – St Martin of O’Neill delivered for his Celtic family,” he said.
Another Celtic fan, Aidan, said the result had topped the birth of his two children — “”I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life,” he said.
Fewer than 800 Hearts fans were inside the stadium, but thousands had gathered in pubs in Edinburgh to watch on TV, hopeful that their side would pull off a remarkable footballing achievement.
Fiona, who was at the Tynecastle Arms with her 10-year-old daughter Olivia, said she was “proud and devastated” following the result.
She added that there was “so much to look forward to” and she was hopeful for the future.
“Whether it’s next year or whether it’s five or ten years – it will happen eventually,” she said.
Many fans gathered at Tynecastle Stadium to welcome home the players, despite the disappointing result.
Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge sent his commiserations to the club, saying it was a heartbreaking ending for a team that had given “absolutely everything” at Celtic Park.
“The club has had such a great campaign, bringing so much joy, excitement and inspiration to their fans and to the wider community,” he said.
‘Celebrate responsibly’
There was a heavy police presence in Glasgow both before and after the match.
O’Neill, who last won the title in 2004 during his first spell at Celtic, was among those who had urged fans to celebrate “safely and responsibly”.
“We want all our fans to be safe and ensure that we are mindful of others and our wider community,” he had said ahead of the big game.
In recent years, some Celtic fans and Rangers fans too have been involved in anti-social behaviour after important matches.
A police statement about the behaviour of Celtic fans in the past was rebutted by Glasgow City Council.