Celtic vs Hearts controversy erupts as former FIFA referee addresses abandonment calls

Celtic secured the Scottish Premiership title in dramatic fashion, but what should have been a day of celebration at Celtic Park has instead become overshadowed by controversy and debate surrounding the chaotic scenes that unfolded at full time.

The title race came to a thrilling conclusion as Celtic battled Hearts in a high-stakes encounter, with the visitors entering the match knowing that even a draw would be enough to secure the championship for themselves. Hearts appeared to take a huge step toward glory when captain Lawrence Shankland fired them into the lead, raising the prospect of heartbreak for the home supporters.

However, Celtic responded before the interval in controversial circumstances. A disputed penalty decision allowed the hosts to level the match just before halftime, sparking frustration and debate over the officiating at a crucial moment in the title race.

As the match entered its closing stages, the drama intensified further. With five minutes remaining, Daizen Maeda looked to have delivered the decisive moment by finding the back of the net in the 85th minute to put Celtic ahead and seemingly within touching distance of the trophy. Yet, despite taking the lead, there was still time left on the clock, leaving Hearts with a final opportunity to mount a response.

Deep into stoppage time, Hearts were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous area, prompting goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow to race up the field in a desperate bid to help his side salvage the title. Celtic managed to clear the danger, immediately launching a swift counterattack that ended with substitute Callum Osmand calmly finishing into an empty net in the 98th minute, sending Celtic Park into wild celebrations.

The jubilant scenes quickly turned chaotic as supporters flooded onto the pitch moments after the goal, creating disorder inside the stadium and forcing Hearts players to leave the field amid safety concerns. In the confusion, referee Don Robertson opted to bring the game to an immediate conclusion rather than allow Hearts to restart play from the centre circle.

That decision has since become a major talking point, with questions raised over whether Hearts should have been given the opportunity to kick off again, regardless of how unlikely a comeback would have been in the remaining seconds.

Former Premier League referee and ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett was among those asked for his opinion on the situation. Sharing his thoughts publicly, Hackett acknowledged the extremely difficult circumstances Robertson faced, pointing out that the referee serves as the sole timekeeper and had to make a split-second decision while prioritising the safety of players and officials.

Hackett described the referee’s actions as understandable given the extraordinary circumstances, arguing that Robertson was placed in an almost impossible position once supporters entered the field. At the same time, he acknowledged that denying Hearts the chance to restart the match, however slim their hopes of scoring twice in the final moments may have been, is likely to remain a contentious issue.