Referee Don Robertson ended the Scottish Premiership title decider after consulting Hearts manager Derek McInnes. McInnes wanted players off the pitch after Callum Osmand’s late goal made the score 3-1 for Hearts, with Celtic fans streaming on. The Scottish Football Association released video and audio from the final moments and stated Robertson took the correct action in ending the game. Hearts raised concerns that the match ended prematurely, noting Robertson signalled full time despite stoppage time appearing to have about 30 seconds remaining. Hearts also warned that pitch invasions could determine match duration. Celtic dismissed criticism, and allegations of assault were said to be unproven. The SFA said the match official clearly communicated the match was ended, not abandoned.
"The Scottish Football Association has released the video and audio, external from the final moments of last Saturday's dramatic final-day Scottish Premiership title decider to confirm referee Don Robertson did end the game after consulting with Hearts boss Derek McInnes. The Tynecastle head coach wanted his players off the pitch as Celtic fans streamed on following Callum Osmand's late goal that made it 3-1 to the hosts. The SFA says Robertson took the "correct action in ending the game"."
"Hearts also raised concerns about the "premature" end to the match, with referee Robertson signalling for full time despite there appearing to be 30 seconds left of the minimum eight minutes of stoppage time when Osmand scored. The club's statement added they wrote to the SPFL and Scottish FA "expressing our concern that a troubling precedent has been set whereby a pitch invasion can effectively determine the duration of a match". The SFA's statement noted McInnes "intimated concerns over player safety"."
""We fully support the decisive action taken by Don Robertson and his team to end the game," the governing body added. "In the context of what unfolded which is verified by the footage and the Match Incident Report submitted to the Scottish FA the match official clearly communicated that the match was ended and not abandoned.""
"Celtic manager Martin O'Neill dismissed criticism of the pitch invasion as "nonsense" and said allegations of assault have "not been proved". Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom claimed on Wednesday that Tynecastle players were assaulted by Celtic fans. Hearts also raised concerns about the "premature" end to the match, with referee Robertson signalling for full time despite there appearing to be 30 seconds left of the minimum eight minutes of stoppage time when Osmand scored."
Read at www.bbc.com
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