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Figure caption,Celtic fans' pitch invasion 'totally unacceptable'
- Published35 minutes ago
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill says it is "nonsense" to suggest the pitch invasion that followed Saturday's dramatic Scottish Premiership title win embarrassed the game.
Spectators streamed out of the stands at Celtic Park after Callum Osmand ran clear to make it 3-1 to Celtic in the 98th minute, sealing a fifth successive championship for the hosts.
Hearts players hastily left the stadium while still in their kits, with the Tynecastle club referencing a "menacing and threatening atmosphere".
On Sunday, Celtic apologised to Hearts via a statement, adding that they will co-operate with a police investigation into the scenes.
It was put to O'Neill on Talksport that the events at full-time had tainted the image of Celtic's win.
"I totally disagree with that," said O'Neill. "I don't know about confrontations in terms of the Hearts players. There's a lot of hyperbole about that. Let's find out the real picture."
He was then asked about Hearts referring to the scenes, external as having "embarrassed Scottish football".
O'Neill replied: "As they might do. I just don't believe it. I think it's nonsense.
"Let me have a look at the picture, let me have a look as if I was judge and jury of these particular things. Let me see the scenes at the end of the day and then I'll come back to you, OK."
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Osmand's goal came on 98 minutes, with eight minutes of stoppage time having been signalled at the end of regulation time.
"The fact is that when we scored the third goal, the game was essentially over, there were about eight seconds left, or whatever the case may be," added O'Neill.
"The referee has claimed that he had blown the final whistle. And then there's obvious excitement, we have scored to win the league."
When Talksport host Jim White repeated that supporters should not have come on to the pitch, O'Neill replied: "Well, start telling that to every single football club.
"I assumed that the final whistle had gone at exactly the same moment that we put the ball in the net for the third goal. It's a home game and we'd just won the league, and the fans have come on to the field, all right? OK, so they should stay put then?"
Premiership organisers the SPFL are waiting for the match delegate's report to consider action.
Police said two officers were seriously injured following trouble in Glasgow city centre on Saturday, which resulted in 14 arrests.
