Celtic hit with stadium sanction and fine after Hearts pitch invasion as four other matches incur penalties

Thousands of Celtic fans encroached on to the playing surface after Callum Osmand scored to make it 3-1 in a title decider against Hearts on May 16. The visiting staff had to be escorted out of the stadium after being accosted, with players still in their kit as they boarded the team bus.

A Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) disciplinary process was launched in the wake of the match and the result is that Celtic will lose 1,000 seats for one home match if a “significant incursion” by their supporters takes place between now and June 30, 2028.

The sanction from the SPFL read: “A reduction in capacity of 1,000 seats (to be taken from the front rows of the home sections of Celtic Park) for one SPFL match, suspended until 30 June 2028, to be triggered by a significant pitch incursion by home fans at a future home SPFL match. Fine of £7,500.”

The game between Celtic and Hearts was one of five matches that was subject to an SPFL disciplinary hearing.

The Premiership clash between Motherwell and Celtic three days earlier at Fir Park was probed due to pitch incursions and the use of pyrotechnics. Motherwell also face a stadium sanction, while Celtic’s away allocation may also be trimmed if there are any further events.

The SPFL noted for Motherwell: “Closure of Block E in the East Stand of Fir Park for one SPFL match, suspended until 30 June 2027, to be triggered by either (a) the orchestrated or excessively dangerous use of pyrotechnics by home fans or (b) a significant pitch incursion by home fans, in each case at a future home SPFL match. Fine of £2,500. At least five Motherwell supporters shall be referred to the SPFL Trust’s recognised pyrotechnic awareness course.”

For Celtic, they wrote: “Reduction of 100 tickets from the club’s allocation in one away SPFL match (such tickets to be paid for by Celtic to the home club at the full adult price), suspended until 30 June 2027, to be triggered by either (a) the orchestrated or excessively dangerous use of pyrotechnics by away fans or (b) a significant pitch incursion by away fans, in each case at a future away SPFL match.”

In the Championship play-off between Stenhousemuir and Alloa at Ochilview on May 16, there will be “a reduction in capacity of 150 seats (to be taken from the front rows of the main stand of Ochilview Park) for one SPFL match, suspended until 30 June 2028, to be triggered by a significant pitch incursion by home fans at a future home SPFL match”.

In League One, Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Hamilton Accies were both fined £1,000 for a pitch invasion on May 2, with Inverness facing a suspended North Stand closure if a “significant pitch incursion”. happens again in the next two years.

Hamilton Accies were also reprimanded and given a formal warning for a pitch invasion at home to Clyde on June 15.