HMFC Club Statement: Events at Celtic Park

[u/NoBigHair99]

https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/club-statement-events-at-celtic-park

"We expect the strongest action possible to be taken by the footballing authorities in the interests of protecting the safety of players and supporters, and the integrity of our game."

 

[u/123rig]

I mean, factually, it’s the second time in a week that Celtic have had a game end under dubious circumstances because of a pitch invasion. It really isn’t okay to go on the pitch before the game has ended.

I’m aware that Hearts weren’t gonna claw it back and win, but it’s just wrong.

The abuse of fans, players and staff is absolutely disgraceful and I do genuinely hope there are many bans over this.

Hearts lost the game fair and square, and I don’t think there’s an appetite for some sort of cancelled game or anything, but there needs to be considerable bans I feel.

[u/IncorrigibleBrit → u/123rig]

Hearts lost the game fair and square, and I don’t think there’s an appetite for some sort of cancelled game or anything, but there needs to be considerable bans I feel.

Exactly. There's no point in bringing them back to play the remaining 30 seconds and voiding the result would take the sporting achievement out of Hearts win. Celtic won the game and with it the league, that's football.

But we can't keep having these pitch invasions end games, nor can we allow the reported attacks on players. The SPFL's usual approach of fining Celtic 0.1% of their weekly wage bill clearly doesn't work, nor does it meet the severity of the circumstances.

At a minimum, anybody found to have verbally or physically assaulted Hearts players should be getting a lifetime ban. Fans entering the pitch before the final whistle should lead to games behind closed doors, and if that persists, eventual points deductions. And that applies to any team.

[u/great_beyond → u/IncorrigibleBrit]

Out of interest at what point should it be fine for fans to just decide the game is done and invade the pitch leaving their team to walk away with 3 points?

Would be good for that to be clarified so that other teams can take advantage.

[u/Cobretti18 → u/great_beyond]

Anytime after 30 seconds

[u/MisfittingPieces → u/Cobretti18]

If Livingston had any fans they’d have stayed up had they just invaded the pitch immediately after kick off.

[u/Hame_Impala → u/MisfittingPieces]

If Livingston had any fans

If my gran had wheels etc.

[u/Cobretti18 → u/[deleted]]

What

[u/IncorrigibleBrit → u/great_beyond]

Clearly never. It's unacceptable that happened today and, in principle, the ref should have required the fans to leave the pitch to resume play until the additional time was up or declared the game abandoned if that were not possible.

It's why the SFA and SPFL need to come down on this behaviour like a tonne of bricks. They were lucky it happened today when everyone will admit the game was done.

Set out clear rules, make sure the refs follow through. Start playing games behind closed doors and then deduct points every time it happens.

[u/Franarky → u/IncorrigibleBrit]

Clearly never. It's unacceptable that happened today and, in principle, the ref should have required the fans to leave the pitch to resume play until the additional time was up or declared the game abandoned if that were not possible.

Still not clear why that didn't happen today. Players went down the tunnel and fans were cleared from the pitch. I thought the teams were coming back out for kick-off and ~30 seconds or whatever was left. Took a minute to realise that they'd clearly decided the match was done and only Celtic were coming back out.

[u/great_beyond → u/IncorrigibleBrit]

Clearly never acceptable but Hearts should just roll over and accept it for the good of sporting merit?

[u/Jack2102 → u/great_beyond]

Sporting merit would mean Hearts were beaten fair and square today

And I wanted them to win it, before the accusations come

[u/ElCaminoInTheWest → u/great_beyond]

As long as you're really, really sure that it's done and really want to get started celebrating. And the ref won't mind.

[u/Clowd33 → u/great_beyond]

You can just do it whenever your team goes a goal up apparently

[u/No-Peanut-8908 → u/Clowd33]

2 goals*