Police pelted with bottles as Celtic fans celebrate Scottish Premiership title

During the celebration of Celtic's fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title win, bottles and other projectiles were hurled at police as thousands of fans took to the streets of Glasgow.

Supporters convened in the Trongate area following a decisive 3-1 victory at Parkhead stadium, which thwarted Heart of Midlothian's aspirations of capturing their first top-flight league title in 66 years.

Police Scotland reported that officers entered the crowd to attend to a medical emergency but encountered "significant levels of hostility."

In response, the police stated that "decisive action" was to be enacted to disperse the gathering, urging individuals to vacate the area for their safety.

Visuals from the scene depicted lines of officers equipped with riot shields, alongside one Celtic supporter seen with a head injury.

The Match

This match was considered one of the most highly anticipated events in recent Scottish football history.

Heart of Midlothian needed only a draw to break the 40-year dominance of the Glasgow clubs, but two swift goals in the closing moments ensured Celtic secured the necessary victory.

Ecstatic Celtic supporters flooded the pitch as the third goal was scored.

Commenting on the match, BBC Sportscene pundit Allan Preston noted that some Celtic fans appeared to direct their ire toward Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland.

As the match approached the conclusion of the designated eight minutes of added time, the game did not resume due to the pitch invasion.

Players and staff from Hearts made a hurried departure from the venue, with some still in their playing kits as they boarded the team bus for their return to Edinburgh.

In response to allegations of fans assaulting Hearts players, Celtic manager Martin O'Neill stated: "If some Hearts players have been accosted, then that's just not right at all. I genuinely didn't see the scenes at the end because I thought the game wasn't over, so I'm trying to push some of our fans off the pitch again to play whatever's left."

Celebrations and Reactions

While lifting the trophy, O'Neill, now 74 years old, expressed gratitude, stating that the Celtic players and coaching staff had "given me a reason to live."

Celtic captain Callum McGregor acknowledged the resilience of his teammates, remarking that many had "written us off."

"We knew we would get a chance for sure. This is the way this group is, they just keep going and going," he affirmed.

Numerous Celtic fans gathered in bars throughout Glasgow, celebrating the remarkable win. One fan, Aidan, expressed that this victory surpassed the joy of the births of his two children, stating, "I've never experienced anything like this in my life."

While fewer than 800 Hearts fans were present in the stadium, thousands watched the match in pubs across Edinburgh, hopeful for an extraordinary outcome for their team.

Fiona, who was at the Tynecastle Arms with her 10-year-old daughter Olivia, shared her mixed emotions, saying she was "proud and devastated" due to the result. She explained, "A lot of my friends think it's 11 men kicking a ball around a field, but it's more than that for us." Fiona expressed optimism, mentioning there was "so much to look forward to."

Supporters also gathered at Tynecastle stadium to welcome home their players despite the disappointing outcome.

Edinburgh's Lord Provost Robert Aldridge extended his sympathies to the club, characterizing the ending as heartbreaking for a team that had given "absolutely everything" at Celtic Park. "The club has had such a great campaign, bringing so much joy, excitement, and inspiration to their fans and to the wider community," he noted.

Police Presence and Safety Measures

A significant police presence was established in Glasgow both before and after the match.

O'Neill had previously called on fans to celebrate "safely and responsibly." He articulated, "We want all our fans to be safe and ensure that we are mindful of others and our wider community," prior to the match.

In recent years, some Celtic supporters have engaged in anti-social behavior, particularly after congregating en masse in the Merchant City and Trongate areas of Glasgow.

As a precaution, glass was removed from bus stop shelters on Friday, and the club advised fans to refrain from mass gatherings that could have a "high impact" on the city.