SPFL Posts

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.

17 May 2026 21:41:48
I don't think that there is a more HATED TEAM THAN CELTIC after yesterday, there 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.

19 May 2026 01:47:58
Who was assaulted, exactly?
This pain is delicious.

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.

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.

17 May 2026 15:54:27
Would love every team team refusing to play at their midden next season citing player safety, and only agreeing to play at a neutral venue with a 50/50 split for fans. Either that or closed doors.

Will be interesting to see if there are any fines and points deduction coming their way, though can't see it myself. Should be told to return the trophy and give it to Hearts if the match was abandoned, but that's never going to happen either.

17 May 2026 17:05:13
According to Martin O'Neill, the 4th official told him there was still a minute to be played and he thought the teams were to be brought back out.

The final whistle was not blown prior to fan invasion.

Hearts players were assaulted and could not continue due to safety concerns.

The referee could not restore order.

The match is therefore abandoned.



It matters not that the ref claimed to have returned to the pitch himself later, after Hearts had left to blow the whistle.

That's a lame attempt at ass-covering.

The conduct of Celtic's fans led to abandonment. The rules are clear. Celtic forfeit the game and Hearts are awarded a 3-0 win.

I hope Tony Bloom and Co. fight this all the way to CAS.

17 May 2026 17:58:10
200%MVG. 👍

17 May 2026 18:24:11
Mgv, yea Hearts must take this all the way. imo.

17 May 2026 14:30:12
The SPFL sweeping has begun.

17 May 2026 15:11:28
Another cover up. 🤫

17 May 2026 15:37:04
The Trongate Tramps strike again!

17 May 2026 17:54:14
Seemingly, a game can only be ended if it has restarted, whether the ball has gone out of play or any other circumstances. To restart a game, there has to be at least 7 players on the pitch from each team, or the game is void.
The game can stop if it is deemed to have played the full 90 minutes, which the referee clearly didn't think, as he played injury time.

The Celtic manager has said he was told there was another minute to play, and this can't be placed on the Hearts manager, as his only concern was his players and he was never going to send them back onto the field of play.

I shouldn't post on a Sunday as it's my day of drinking and I don't make sense sometimes.

I can't help but blame everyone involved in Scottish football for this, as everyone was happy to put the boot into our team on the way down without thinking of the consequences.

Who can forget the missing email or the garbage about football is nothing without fans, but we had to play in front of an empty Ibrox.

Rangers in the past have tried to gather all the teams together, but they have always been swayed by that mob, Lawell in particular.

Now they all realise what Rangers have been saying. Don't blame the referees, as they are given no support from the SFA, as Scottish football is now all about one team and one team only. We can't even accuse them of cheating, as the SFA allows them to play within certain rules knowing that every statement will suit one team.

I now understand why people say Scottish football is corrupt, and I hate that fact. Hearts didn't lose the league yesterday; they lost it on Wednesday night, and are now getting a taste of what our great club have had to deal with since everyone was happy to boot the team we love down. We as a club will come back again, but others only get 1 chance and they have blown it for themselves.