SPFL Posts 2

19 May 2026 13:08:22
After having had a look on youtube to see what happenned after Celtic's 3rd goal, a few things occurred to me.

It was blatantly obvious that those Celtic "fans" who occupy the North Curve stand (where, surprise, surprise the Green Brigade are ensconsed ) were the vast majority who invaded the pitch with 3 very serious intentions.

a) Ensure that the game was over.

b) Assault and abuse the Hearts players on the pitch.

c) Very bravely (ha, ha) run towards the massed ranks of the opposition fans (the whole 730+ plus of them), in order to taunt them mercilessly - what a show of sportmanship eh?

19 May 2026 15:35:18
Jim, so you were able to see the read the minds of and see the intent of a whole section of fans through YouTube. Well done, and I might need some tutoring as I struggle to work out when my wife is going to be upset with me most of the time.

19 May 2026 16:24:49
Usually the day of the wedding. 🙄🤣

19 May 2026 16:31:31
Angus, trying to work out our good ladies Impossible.

19 May 2026 16:56:35
I just try to do what I am told. That actually works for the 50% of the time I am listening and paying attention.

19 May 2026 17:46:15
Angus, well done - and so you should be!

19 May 2026 17:46:44
Angus, I'd love to hear the conversation you have with the wife when you're playing devil's advocate. I think we all know how that goes down. 😂😂

19 May 2026 17:55:58
Jim 217, everybody watching knew their intentions, and I mean everybody.

19 May 2026 18:24:55
Angus, when sitting our kitchen-diner awaiting my dinner, my daughter has that "Place in the Sun" programme on.

Talk about ladies being in charge, you better believe it, but, it's actually a good laugh, if you do as I do, because I'm on my laptop, facing the other way, and can't help but overhear the inane chat that comes out.



Potential couple buyers (lady), apart from constantly giggling, like a 20 year-old, "Oh my God, look at the size of that!"

Question - has the presenter unzipped himself and revealed all?

19 May 2026 20:54:53
My guilty pleasure is 4 in a bed (the programme, not a sexual preference). 😅😅

Even my kids slag me as I get right into it!

19 May 2026 21:10:03
Flb, I know the topics to stay well away from, and we have been married long enough that she can see the bait I have thrown and just tells me how it is.

Athole and Jim, I now will see you both in a different light from now on.

I now see a market though for A Place in the Sun for 4 in a Bed. A crossover which gets a bigger audience.

19 May 2026 11:42:52
I'm hearing there was an almighty row in the tunnel and away dressing room at CP at the weekend. Hearts players fighting amongst each other. Shankland and Braga apparently had a right ding dong at training through the week resulting in Braga being left on the bench on Saturday.
Other names involved were Frankie Kent and Blair Spittal with Spittal having to go to hospital when they got back to Edinburgh.

Apparently, because of the fracas, the players were huckled onto the bus still in their kit.
Source is a tim pal of mine so don't shoot the messenger.
It would be interesting to see if anybody had heard similar?

19 May 2026 12:42:43
McInnes said pre-game that Braga was nursing a groin injury and couldn't start 3 games in a week! Not sure about the rest though.

19 May 2026 12:59:23
Don't know if Derek is saying that to cover it up? At the end of the day, it doesn't affect us, I suppose, unless we had planned to sign Shanks and Braga in the summer!

19 May 2026 14:17:03
Pretty much all of that is untrue.

After what the players and staff experienced on the pitch, and many of the staff experienced in the stadium, we were advised to make as quick an exit as possible whilst the 'celebrations' were ongoing in order to minimise any further trouble. The main concern was the team bus leaving whilst the Celtic fans were leaving the ground.



Hence why some of the players were still in their full kit and boots when they boarded the team bus.

If you actually consider the original post - if the Hearts players were fighting amongst themselves, what possible logic would there be for rushing them out to a team bus, an even smaller environment that would make controlling the situation much more difficult?

19 May 2026 15:37:31
2 + 2 = 5. 😂

19 May 2026 15:40:35
Thanks EHL, I thought it was a load of crap myself, but just put it out there to see if anybody had heard anything. 👍

19 May 2026 15:53:39
Very droll, Angus. 🤪

19 May 2026 16:12:00
Seeker, no offence meant, but I imagine, like everything in football, the end result normally has people filling in the gaps beforehand to make sense. So, for your Celtic supporting friend, is it better that the reason Hearts left was because of internal strife, or because they feared for their safety? Getting the story out of internal strife makes their support look slightly better, as the fleeing was happening anyway.

👍

19 May 2026 16:40:25
EHL, that was good of the Ref to blow early so you could miss the traffic.

19 May 2026 16:57:35
SoS, but the ref never blew his whistle, remember. 😉

19 May 2026 17:05:31
Correct, Angus.

19 May 2026 17:37:44
Angus. 👍

18 May 2026 15:07:32
EHL or any know if Hearts are going to try and take action over Celtic invasion? Mark Donaldson on talksport saying things going on that couldn't discuss at the moment so wondered if anyone heard anything?

18 May 2026 16:05:30
Who marks Donaldson?

18 May 2026 16:13:54
Kaiser, I think it would all be fruitless if it is meant to alter the result of this game. Referee says the game had finished, and as the only arbiter, his decision is final. He doesn't need to blow a whistle, just say it is done. I think it is all hope on Rangers fans' part that the authorities will do what we never managed, sadly, over 38 games to do. I do feel sorry for Hearts, but at 3-1 they were never getting 2 goals in a minute. So suspect the punishment will be for the invasion and not for what it did to the end of the game.

I think there needs to now be focus on what punishment is right in future for fan invasions of any sort and what triggers cause each level to happen.

Atm, I understand that fines and partial closure of stands are the most common club punishment. Although they can deduct points, it has never happened up till now, so doubt it will happen this time.

I prefer to look forward to next season than expect anything to happen here other than a fine and slap on the wrist. Btw, I would expect it to be the same if it had been our fans who had caused the same thing. Poor SFA with badly written rules.

18 May 2026 16:46:50
I don't think that is accurate, Angus.

Celtic fans interrupted a game in progress.

In doing so, Hearts players were assaulted and were escorted from the field of play under police protection.

In addition to there still being time to play per 4th official, the referee can only extend time, not reduce it.

If the players could not return to the pitch to finish the game due to the thuggery and unruliness of Celtic fans, as Martin O'Neil stated, he thought was to happen, then the game was abandoned, not concluded.

Now, do I think the SPFL/SFA give a s*** about that, no I don't. I expect them to batten down the hatches and support Celtic at every turn.



However, I would expect Hearts to follow process of lodging appeal with SPFL, and when that is rejected, follow on to CAS, which is their only hope of a non-biased evaluation of events leading to game abandonment.

If they find that is the case, one would expect the result to be overturned and Hearts awarded a 3-0 win.

I'm sure all legal routes have been examined over the weekend and we will find out soon what happens next, if anything. Tony Bloom does not appear to be a mug, so if there is a likelihood this can be addressed and remedied, he will surely follow it through.

18 May 2026 16:53:01
And, Angus, Hearts never getting 2 goals in a minute?

Says who?

Remember Man United v Bayern Munich? 2 goals in 90 seconds.

Remember Scotland v Denmark? Goals scored in 90th and 92nd minutes.

Many more examples.

At the weekend, Rochdale played York. York needed a point to win promotion, Rochdale needed a win. Rochdale scored in the 95th minute and their fans flooded onto the park to celebrate what they thought was their win.

The referee didn't call time.

Instead, he waited 6 minutes until order was restored and restarted the game. When he did, York went up the park and scored. They won promotion.

No one gets to say it doesn't matter, we didn't play the full allocated time because we think you lot wouldn't have scored anyway. The referee must play the full amount of time indicated by 4th official. He can increase it, but he cannot reduce it.

Rules are rules, and I want Celtic held to that standard come what may.

18 May 2026 17:23:01
Have no idea.

I suspect there's a lot going on behind closed doors.

18 May 2026 17:23:26
StevieG, Mark Donaldson is just an ESPN reporter and Hearts fan so wouldn't have paid much attention but then they all said we can't talk about it because something is going on so wondered what. Doubt anything will happen though and will be brushed under the carpet like all the other trouble caused.

18 May 2026 18:20:32
I thought, silly me, the game had to restart, with a kick off after a goal. The referee cannot just say F*** it, I'm not going out there, the game's over!
Doesn't matter what Saint Martin thinks.

18 May 2026 18:26:11
Angus, the laws of the game weren't adhered to as the game didn't restart after they scored.

18 May 2026 19:34:51
Marco, since you have started the historical matches, what about Man City and United in 74 with City 1-0 up. Fans invaded the pitch in the 85+ minute. Ref called end to game and result stood. Brazil vs Sweden when Clive Thomas blew whistle as ball was played into box from corner. Probably many more examples if I actually chose to look.

But in this case even more clearly referee said game was finished. He doesn't need to blow the whistle on the pitch; the game doesn't need to restart and he is sole arbiter of when a match finishes.

You mention a few matches when teams have scored in games but over a period of time in excess of a minute.

And how many matches where teams have needed goals in a minute have resulted in two goals being scored? Not looking for a number just a percentage would do. Just be prepared to type a lot of zeros after the decimal point.

I reckon there will be action against fans and Celtic for the poor behaviour of their fans but I don't suspect points will be deducted for this. Not because of conspiracy but because the referee had ended the game.

I feel sorry for Hearts but not for us as we never took the chance we had to win it over 38 games. I am just not that desperate for Celtic to lose a league they won. I am looking at next season and how we can win it then.

18 May 2026 20:10:10
Perhaps the rules were different back then, but that doesn't appear to be the case now, as per SFA rules posted or what happened this season in Czechia. Quite clearly, if he blew it, it was early, and as a result of the pitch invasion, not before it.

That, and u can't just decide to end the game early because they probably won't come back, and without any of the players or managers or other officials knowing the game ended.

18 May 2026 20:18:20
Wouldn't that be wonderful if it did go as far as the CAS and they were to tell them to hand the trophy over to Hearts.

Wishful thinking, I know, but just imagine.

18 May 2026 20:44:13
Correct, Kaiser. 👍

18 May 2026 20:50:04
Tony Bloom is a shrewd man - I'm sure he's (or hoping) he's just not going to accept this and will be exploring options and has lawyers on it.

18 May 2026 21:04:39
It's a competition governance issue.

Celtic supporters caused a violent pitch invasion before expiry of the minimum additional time, preventing lawful completion of the match and depriving Hearts of the opportunity to contest the remaining period.



Not a straightforward road to get to CAS. The establishment don't like you taking their dirty laundry somewhere they can't hide it.

Would CAS have jurisdiction?

Many questions. I hope Bloom pursues it with vigour.

18 May 2026 22:10:06
Ref has already said publicly that he blew for full time. Therefore, the match was finished. If he hadn't finished the game, his other choice was abandonment, but it seems he has clearly stated that isn't the case. Just because we don't agree doesn't mean it isn't the case.

Marco, they can't go to CAS as the rules in Scotland say it has to be settled in house.

Any club going to CAS would be punished according to the rules of the league.

Kaiser, I know the rules are different now, but could they possibly be different in the Czech Republic?

Carry on thinking that the result will be affected, but I would be highly surprised if it was. Anyway, no point continually going over the same ground, so I will pass on this.

18 May 2026 22:31:00
Hearts' pathway to CAS would not be straightforward. They would have to argue that the dispute is not merely a refereeing or 'field of play' issue, but instead concerns competition integrity, supporter violence, and the lawful completion of the match.

Framing the matter that way could engage broader FIFA/UEFA regulatory principles and strengthen an argument for CAS jurisdiction.



The more fuss made of this matter, the better, as it will force the authorities to consider an actual and meaningful punishment for Celtic, which they thoroughly deserve.

18 May 2026 22:54:54
I have never heard of a ref ending a game and not making anyone aware before. But yes, I expect it all to be brushed under the carpet with no action against Celtic for the trouble as is always the case. My only thought was when it was said something was happening but couldn't be spoken of at this time. Probably never hear anything anyway.

18 May 2026 23:54:44
Well, if he blew the whistle, it will be audible on his mic as it's constantly recording, is it not?

All they've got to do is line it up and release them. He blew the whistle cause the ball hit the net, that was all. Final whistle is 3 blows, goal is one.

Release them and that's the answer one way or another.

19 May 2026 06:15:20
Does it really matter? Yes, it does, but will make no difference as they will get away with it like they always do. Our governing bodies are hopeless, and the damage limitation was on display within minutes. "the ref blew for time" total bs imo.

19 May 2026 10:56:35
Rugby Park, Fir Park, Ibrox and their own Midden. They've been on the pitch; those in charge have been through more brush heads than Trigger.

19 May 2026 12:30:58
For info,

No, referees in Scotland do not broadcast their in-game audio live to fans or television viewers. While on-field officials and the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) are in constant communication during matches, this audio is kept private as per IFAB protocol.


How The Communication Works Between Officials:
The on-field referee, assistant referees, the fourth official, and the VAR team are constantly linked via an intercom system.

The Referee:
The referee is on an open mic to their assistants, but the VAR can only speak to the referee by pushing a button. This is designed to prevent the on-field official from getting distracted by background conversations in the VAR room.



Transparency in Scottish Football
Although the live feed remains private, the Scottish FA occasionally releases selected VAR audio and communications for major, contentious decisions. These are primarily made available through: The VAR Review: Monthly review programs broadcast on sports networks featuring the Scottish FA's head of referees.

Club Consultations:
The governing body occasionally plays audio directly for club managers and representatives upon request when specific flashpoints occur. Currently, football regulations dictate that fans cannot listen to the raw, unfiltered audio live as it happens - unlike in sports such as rugby.

19 May 2026 14:30:30
Fork, cheers for info, mate.

It still shows, though, mate, that the referee is in constant audio, which is constantly recorded. Or am I getting it wrong here?

19 May 2026 15:00:45
Yes, he does, but it's only released for contentious decisions/VAR issues, but under IFAB rules we're not meant to have access to it.
So, possibly it could be used to confirm the timing of the whistle if he did blow it. 👍

19 May 2026 16:48:02
That's all I'm trying to put across, mate, is that surely it could be used to put an exact time on the whistle being blown if it indeed was and if it was then we all accept it.

19 May 2026 17:05:28
Sorry can't help myself. Stevie, the whistle doesn't need to be blown, though, so not hearing it on tape wouldn't mean the match hadn't finished.

Or alternatively Celtic will be deducted 11 points and Hearts will also be deducted 9 for leaving the stadium early in their kits.

So, good news, we have won the league. 🏆 That is actually the only way it would make a difference to me or the club.

19 May 2026 17:16:08
There lies the poser, to blow or not to blow, as Angus says above, if he didn't blow it, there's nothing to hear.

19 May 2026 17:27:50
But the match is still finished. 🤷

19 May 2026 18:45:58
Calm down, I'm aware. 🙄😉🤣🤣

19 May 2026 19:55:23
Angus, what do I mean the whistle doesn't have to go to end the game? Of course it does, mate.

Can u explain why it doesn't?

17 May 2026 21:41:48
I don't think that there is a more HATED TEAM THAN CELTIC after yesterday, their fans think that they didn't do a thing wrong and it was acceptable to join their team on the pitch to celebrate another trophy win.

17 May 2026 22:46:18
They hadn't won the trophy though, Scrambled.

Their fans interrupted a game in progress.

Then those fans assaulted members of the opposition team.

The players fled the field of play, fearing for their safety.

As a result, the game could not be completed in accordance with the rules of the game.

Martin O'Neil has already confirmed the 4th official told him the game time remaining to be played.

O'Neil expected to return his players to the park once order was restored.

Order was not restored due to fan invasion. There are already very clear rules governing these types of incidents.

Hoping Hearts FC take this all the way to CAS.

17 May 2026 22:49:32
Long shot, I know, but can you imagine what would have happened if we had won over there & scuppered their league chances. Oh boy!

18 May 2026 07:27:27
The game not restarting is a rule breaker.

18 May 2026 07:49:38
The SFA/SPFL ducks are all quacking the same story. Robertson informed the delegate he blew for time. When? They were already on the park. Hearts never left the field. They were escorted by stewards and police for their safety. Total covering of their archives to finish the job they started with Slattery.

18 May 2026 07:54:40
"Archie's instead of archives" didn't want to be rude. 🙄😉

18 May 2026 14:06:56
Hearts not happy with SPFL and SFA response and are escalating it to UEFA and FIFA. Celtic have gained 24 points over the season on last minute goals. Can you imagine at 2 each at Motherwell the Motherwell fans invaded the pitch and the game was stopped, or at any grounds where they have scored a last min goal?

18 May 2026 14:54:50
Aye, but it's ex chairman George Foulkes. It's not officially Hearts.

18 May 2026 16:47:36
If Hearts FC are planning an appeal, Foulkes should stay out of the way imo.

17 May 2026 16:16:03
With some people saying that Hearts should be given the 3 points and 3-0 scoreline due to the pitch invasion by them. Had this ever actually happened.? I don't know any time it has?

17 May 2026 16:44:33
Prague derby a few weeks ago it happened.

17 May 2026 16:59:53
Correct, Going for.

I hope Hearts lawyer up and take it all the way to The Court of Arbitration for Sport. They'll need to as they won't get justice in Scotland.

17 May 2026 21:17:31
Prague derby, it was over rules 3 days after the game, and 3-0 awarded to losing team. I believe score was 3-2 at the time, with 3 mins remaining.

17 May 2026 22:51:36
Correct Stevie.

The remaining time had to have been played. Who knows what could have happened.

Look at the Rochdale v York match. York only had to avoid defeat to win promotion. 95 mins in, Rochdale scored.

Their fans flooded the pitch thinking their team had done it. It took the referee 6 minutes to restore order.

When play resumed, York went up the park and scored the equalizer that won them promotion.

17 May 2026 23:25:00
Lads 1 minute is theoretically possible to score 2 goals so by laws of the game if the match had to be abandoned due to winning teams fans invading pitch and making it unsafe to restart the match it has to be forfeited and a 3-0 score awarded to the other side.

I'll post the exact out take from rule book on sightings page and Ed will post it on banter for all to see.

It's not paranoia ots facts that they're getting away with murder and it's been over course of this season, and many before hand too.

The handball at Motherwell game was the big one and they got it wrong.

Red card on Johnstone where the var weren't given the one clip that shows it's a red.

There was another decision on Old Firm went their way I can't remember what one.

Then this riot yesterday where the game had a minute to play and they invade pitch threaten and assault players and the police tell ref to take the players off.

The whistle wasn't blown oneil said as much, and the other rumour that 2 police escorted the ref out to pitch to blow it if true proves that.

That match absolutely if rules are followed should be awarded to Hearts tomorrow or Tuesday.

Surely all officials knew this to be the rules and basically have bottled making the ruling due to the pitch invasion.

Even if McCinnes says no to restarting it the ref still needs to take the field with Celtic team and then blow to abandon. That's the rules there's no grey area it's black n white.

18 May 2026 10:39:07
Correct, Stevie.

Many such examples.

Man United - Champions League final - 2 goals in 90 seconds.

Even Scotland v Denmark recently, 90th and 92nd minute goals that took us to a World Cup.

18 May 2026 22:13:26
Stevie, if 2 police officers escorted the ref out to pitch to blow the whistle then the game was played to its conclusion, I'm afraid. That is one of the ways for him to show 'visually' that it was. In fact, I've done a bit of reading on this, and one way I found was this, surprisingly.



Entering the Final Report: Under IFAB Law 5, the referee remains the sole timekeeper. Declaring the match finished in the official post-game referee's report legally codifies the result.

18 May 2026 23:56:24
But Angus, if the referee is lying, that's a collaborated cover up. If he has lied, then he can't have the final say.

As I've said above, release the audio of his
microphone and that will be the answer.

19 May 2026 08:48:35
Stevie, it was you who said the ref in your post had been led onto the field. But he doesn't actually have to blow his whistle. He just needs to put in his report that the match had ended.

Are we so desperate for them not to win that we are grasping at this and the straws of Hearts taking legal action against the SFA? Is everyone now involved in this conspiracy against us? What benefit is there to a referee to lie in these circumstances? Yes, it benefits Celtic, but the ref gets no benefit that I can see.



I just prefer to accept we weren't good enough and have great sympathy for Hearts, as, over the season, despite doing magnificently well, neither were they.

19 May 2026 14:33:17
Angus, the laws and rules of the game matter, mate.

And yes we are so desperate for them not to win the league that we are grasping at this. Yes, mate that's exact lot correct. 💯 We are,

Celtic fans ruined the game, whether its minute 60 or 95. They shouldn't be allowed to get away with invading the pitch, causing all that happened and then getting away with ending the game a minute early just cause it suits them?

There are laws and rules to this game and they were not adhered to.



The match should be forfeited.

17 May 2026 15:42:26
Young Curtis on the score sheet AGAIN for Killie. 👏

17 May 2026 16:05:44
Looking forward to him coming back next season, Gazza.

17 May 2026 17:40:27
Playing in a midfield 3 today, played lw, rw, rb and cm for Kilmarnock.

17 May 2026 15:41:08
Nottingham Forest fans singing are you Celtic in disguise after Man United get a goal after mbuemo has a blatant handball in the build up to cunha's goal, everyone sees it, not just fans up in Scotland.

17 May 2026 18:27:52
It makes a change from what is usually sung in Scotland. Same old Celtic, always cheating.