Pitch invasions? We can only call out the inconsistency…
The fall out from our dramatic last day title win continues, with nigh on everyone in the country (excluding the Hibees) still hurting that it was Celtic that triumphed once again. That meant that the much anticipated dream of Maroon ribbons on the trophy were dashed in the most dramatic of circumstances at Celtic Park, home of the Champions.
Celtic deserved their win, that’s not in question, and only the sheer deluded can claim otherwise. So naturally, instead of crying about made up ‘dodgy’ decisions, our haters have extended their focus to other aspects, such as the much publicised pitch invasion in the aftermath of our third goal, a goal which literally clinched the title with barely 10 seconds remaining on the clock.
That was taken up by the Celtic players’ celebrations for a title winning moment and the referee decided to call time on the game at that stage as he is perfectly entitled to do.
What did they think would happen? Hearts to kick off and score TWICE in a few seconds. Grow up for heaven’s sake.
The rule books have been scoured by hacks, pundits and supporters up and down the country in an attempt to deny Celtic the title on a technicality, something that any of us with any common sense know will never ever happen. None more so than Celtic’s media chums at Daily Record while they keep the Celtic Fan Media excluded. Who is attacking Celtic at the moment and who is defending the club. Mainstream media outlets like Daily Record, Herald, Scottish Sun, Daily Mail, The Guardian or is it the Celtic Fan Media sites and blogs?
Even in light of the SFA revealing that match official Don Robertson signalled for full time, the narrative to the contrary is still being pushed by those sick of the sight seeing Celtic being successful.
I mean, do you think the Hearts supporters would have sat quietly on their seats if the roles were reversed at Tynecastle? Not a chance, and it would be proclaimed as a ‘Joyous occasion’
Pitch invasions have been a regular occurrence in not just Scottish football, but on the entire world stage. Indeed a clip recently resurfaced of Kilmarnock supporters taking to the pitch after securing promotion a few years ago, and Derek McInnes happened to be Killie manager at the time. Something that was described as a ‘incredible scenes’ by BBC Scotland. We featured this on Celtic Shorts yesterday – have a look.
I can also recall St Mirren supporters doing the same when they avoided relegation a couple of years ago, and who can forget Hibs supporters who entered the pitch after their clubs first Scottish Cup win in over a century.
The very same game that they were attacked by the marauding The Rangers supporters, yet nothing was mentioned of any possible ‘sanctions’ whether that be ‘points deductions’ or ‘withholding trophies’. One ‘journalist’ with his Ulster accent was on BBC Scotland on Monday drive time calling for Celtic to play the first ten games behind closed doors next season.
Folk will point to the verbal abuse dished out by our supporters as they clearly goaded the Hearts supporters, but again we can point out to Neil Lennon being attacked on the touchline at Tynecastle back in 2011, or Scott Brown being confronted on the Ibrox pitch back in 2017 and there are plenty of other instances.
Funny enough, there was no national condemnation, or threats of possible point deductions. You can only point out the inconsistency.
In all of these pitch invasion the cause is usually the elation of the moment for a set of supporters. Winning the league, or a cup final, avoiding relation or winning promotion, as was the case when Derek McInnes was involved in a match where his own fans – he was the Kilmarnock manager at the time – invaded the pitch. The current Hearts manager seemed to revel in the occasion.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
The proof is in the pudding, see these photos below…
It’s football Derek, it does that to you and your supporters plus supporters elsewhere. Get over it. Read this…
“Absolutely brilliant scenes here at Rugby Park” as Derek McInnes wins promotion…
“Absolutely brilliant scenes here at Rugby Park”…Four years ago a last minute goal for Kilmarnock at Rugby Park against Arbroath gave Derek McInnes’ side the victory that won his side a place back in the Scottish Premiership at the first time of asking…
Overjoyed at the late goal the Kilmarnock fans poured onto the pitch to celebrate their success. The Arbroath players would have been devastated but quote shockingly they stayed to applaud their own supporters, before returning to the away dressing room where they showered, got dressed and did their post match media duties before boarding the bus for the 119 miles drive back to Gayfield Park.
Amazingly the pitch invasion didn’t result in walls being punched
Amazingly the pitch invasion didn’t result in walls being punched in the away dressing room at Rugby Park, or devastated Arbroath players stamping on a Killie fan’s mobile phone, or the Arbroath captain manhandling a Killie supporter with two hands, or false accusations of assaults and intimidation coming their way.
“Absolutely brilliant scenes here at Rugby Park,” BBC Scotland’s different tune
Instead Arbroath acted professionally, accepted their dream was over and graciously left the stadium after everyone was ready to make their return journey on what would have been a very disappointed bus.
“Absolutely brilliant scenes here at Rugby Park,” said the BBC commentator, as the coverage, which included a delighted Derek McInnes posing for selfies with pitch invaders, came to a joyous close. The BBC certainly were full of praise for the “absolutely brilliant scenes” created by the pitch invasion which was caused by a desire last minute winner as Kilmarnock went 2-1 ahead.
Fast forward four years and Derek McInnes’ reaction to another set of supporters acting in exactly the same way as the Kilmarnock supporters did in May 2022 was rather different. Derek left Celtic Park shortly afterwards with what looked like an injured hand.
Unfounded allegations
Hearts released a statement with what appears to be unfounded allegations against the Celtic pitch-invaders. Hearts lost the fight for the title so opted for flight, running away from the stadium in a unique and cowardly fashion, very different from the way Arbroath behaved that night at Rugby Park.
Hearts at Celtic Park on May 16, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
The Celtic support’s elation was no different from the joy experienced by the Kilmarnock fans
The Celtic support’s elation was no different from the joy experienced by the Kilmarnock fans after their promotion win. It’s a natural football reaction with fans spilling onto the park after highly significant outcomes to matches. It’s not happened at Celtic Park since May 1998 when Wim Jansen’s Celtic side beat St Johnstone 2-0 to win the league and stop Rangers FC winning ten titles in a row.
On Saturday Celtic scored an iconic third goal through Callum Osmand to make 100% sure of the title against a Hearts side who threw all eleven players forward looking for an equaliser that would have given them their first title since 1960.
An iconic Celtic moment led to pitch invasion – The Winner Takes it All
The gamble failed as Celtic walked the ball unopposed into the Hearts net and as the pitch invasion. got underway the referee blew his whistle and Derek McInnes walked over to shake Martin O’Neill’s hand before disappearing up the tunnel.
The Hearts statement reeked of bad sportsmanship. Yes the Celtic supporters should not have run onto the pitch and unlike the Killie fans who remained in the stands in 2022, the Celtic fans booed loudly.
Watch for yourselves the Kilmarnock pitch invasion and the Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes’ reaction to it. And listen with awe at the two faced BBC lapping up every last month.
Anyone but Celtic right enough…
🍀 “Celtic, Champions AGAIN!”
Callum Osmand ensures Celtic’s title is retained by tapping the ball into an empty net ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/AVUZtqAIEH
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 16, 2026
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6 Comments
Has anyone from Hearts congratulated Celtic on winning the league yet ? Sore losers with zero class – a mark of champions and of good sportsmanship is that you win and lose with the same grace.
This whole meltdown just cements what we know already BBC, Sky , SMSM , Talkshite etc are so far from impartial you would need to borrow Southamptons binoculars to try any of it .
It’s actually embarrassing the narrative surrounding the pitch invasion, led by our haters of course, which was totally predictable as well imo?
Anyway, it is a growing trend within our club, that isn’t confined to just last Saturday either?
Totally understand the outpour of emotions associated with our club, especially with the ongoing bashing we have to face, season after season.
But we can’t continue with invasion of a pitch under such circumstances either?
Personally believe that the authorities will bring in possibly point deductions next season, if such a trend was to continue imo?
Should have been in place long ago with what our staff has had to endure at that toxic shithole alone?
So therefore, no consequences can be applied to ourselves, all the while other incidents remains at going unchecked?
If the SFA and SPFL really want to tackle the problems, then it has to be across the board, with potential penalties to the club’s guilty of the likes happening.
Would be in favour of such measures getting introduced, but don’t think it will effect ourselves whatsoever imo?
Even our supporters won’t put our club at any such risks whatsoever imo?
Many club’s within Scottish football couldn’t make the same claims whatsoever, especially with the circumstances that were involved?
Simple solution to an ongoing problem, that’s hardly out of hand, but needs to be stamped out, before something serious should occur again, for which our staff can testify to also?
To date we have up too his knees mcinnes suggesting corruption by our club both verbally and by his actions..clapping our penalty against heartless… We have what appears to be shankland mouthing sectarian obscenities to Celtic supporters and Bloom a guy that seems involved with a syndicate that places massive bets on football matches.. Mcinnes should have been sanctioned by now …shankland ..if proved should be removed from the Scotland squad asap and Bloom …sent a space and desist based on legal action pending from Celtic
Sectarian obscenities?
This needs to be highlighted if true.
To use a currently fashionable word – Disgusting.
Which Hearts players were assaulted?
What were the nature of these assaults?
What injuries resulted?
How many people have been charged regarding these assaults?
Of course it is. So is Neil Lennon getting attacked in the dugout at Tynecastle against Hearts. Also 4 Celtic backroom staff being assaulted or hit with bottles 4 times in the last couple of seasons at Ibrox aswell as nets having to be put up at Ibrox to protect Celtic fans.
If Gordon Smith who was seen at a couple of those games at Ibrox when Celtic backroom staff were attacked and needed stitches had been more vocal against unsafe enviroments for players and staff, along with glass being thrown onto the goal area the Celtic keeper will be playing in during the second half at half time against the club he supports then scenes like the weekend may not have happened.
Don’t get me wrong as fans at the half way line goading and allegedly assaulting players is bang out of order. However, when the 3 Celtic players went to their supporters behind the goal where we scored then the fans that joined them in that area and didn’t cross on to the pitch should not be tarnished the same is the ones who crossed the line as I said in the first sentence of this paragraph. As all supporters do not have an issue with that as we have seen it from all teams at some point.
So Derek McInnes enjoys pitch ivasions and actively takes part when being a manager and works for a club that has had supporters attack opposing managers. The “POT” & “KETTLE” springs to mind.
Will we see the Scottish mainstream media ask Derek and Gordon about these issues I mention happening previously within the next week or so or at the start of next season? If not we know the agenda being put to us. However, they should be careful what they wish for as especially the Rangers as it won’t be long before they will be in real trouble if serious punishment is to be rolled out for such actions.