Celtic are expected to face only a "suspended points deduction" and a "fine" following their supporters’ pitch invasion during the title-clinching win over Hearts, according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness.
Fans flooded the pitch after Callum Osmand’s 98th-minute goal secured the Scottish Premiership title, despite lingering uncertainty over whether referee Don Robertson had blown for full-time. The SPFL has since confirmed the match was not abandoned.
Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, believes authorities are unlikely to impose severe punishment and instead opt for a more lenient outcome. “My gut feeling is, having observed Scottish football and having been part of it for many years, the powers that be will cave in and give Celtic a big fine and a small suspended points deduction for next year,” he said.
“They’ll try and sweep it all under the carpet that way.”
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The incident adds to a growing pattern, with Celtic supporters also entering the field during the Scottish Cup clash against Rangers in March, when fans from both sides clashed. However, Wyness argued stronger action is needed to deter repeat incidents. “It’s got to be stopped and the only way to do this is to make something as dramatic as this,” he added.
He even suggested that, if the match had been ruled abandoned, Hearts should have been awarded the title. “What I’d rather see is if this game was abandoned, they would give the actual trophy to Hearts. This tries to put an end to fans coming onto the pitch in situations like that.”
Wyness also pointed to alleged encroachment before the decisive goal. “There’s photographic evidence I’ve seen of Celtic players and substitutes running onto the pitch when the game is still being played, and before the ball was put in the net for the third goal. They were actually encroaching onto the pitch. All sorts of things can happen.”
