NafisaCeltic’s win over Hearts was NOT abandoned, according to two former referees, despite social media claims suggesting the title-deciding result could — or should — be overturned. It was a huge day in Glasgow’s east end as Martin O’Neill led the Hoops to a fifth consecutive championship with a 3-1 win over the Jambos.
However, chaotic scenes broke out before the final whistle, after substitute Callum Osmand scored the third goal in the 90th minute to seal the victory.
That triggered a pitch invasion by home supporters — although loud booing echoed from sections of their own fans as they flooded onto the Celtic Park surface.
The Hearts players were escorted safely down the tunnel following reports they had been “assaulted”, before the Celtic squad celebrated their league triumph.
Questions have since surfaced on social media over whether referee Don Robertson actually blew the final whistle — or whether the match had effectively been abandoned.
FIFA regulations state that if a match is not completed due to a pitch invasion, the referee is required to abandon the fixture. The sport’s governing body — in this case the SFA — would then begin an investigation.
This could lead to a replay being ordered or a 3-0 forfeit awarded to the opposing team — which would effectively hand Hearts the league title. Some fans have referenced the Prague derby earlier this month as a possible precedent.
Slavia were leading Sparta 3-2 in injury time when hundreds of supporters stormed the pitch. Slavia Prague were sanctioned for the invasion — with the referee declaring the match abandoned.
Sparta were awarded a 3-0 win — leaving the door open for them to close the gap in the Czech title race.
Former SFA referees Steve Conroy and Des Roache clarified that the match would not have been abandoned simply because Robertson did not blow his whistle — noting that he can end the game using other signals.
Posting on The Ref’s View podcast X account, they stated: “It is up to the referee when the game ends. He doesn’t need to blow the whistle, he just needs to signal. The game was not abandoned!”
The Celtic Way reports that Robertson has informed SPFL delegates that the match was not abandoned and that the final whistle was indeed blown.
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