Celtic have been handed a financial penalty and a suspended seat reduction by the SPFL following the pitch invasion during their title-clinching win over Hearts.
The Hoops secured a fifth consecutive Premiership title with a 3-1 victory over the Jambos, with goals from Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand proving decisive late in the match.
Fans spilled onto the pitch before the full-time whistle after Osmand netted in injury time, forcing Hearts players to be escorted down the tunnel to safety.
The Hearts squad left the stadium while still in their kits as Celtic players celebrated clinching the championship on the park.
Celtic, Hearts and the SPFL all condemned the scenes that brought an enthralling title race to a chaotic close.
The SPFL subsequently released a formal statement outlining the specific punishments handed to Celtic for the incident at Celtic Park.
The governing body confirmed: “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.”
Celtic also received a separate suspended punishment relating to the penultimate league match of the season, alongside Motherwell who faced their own sanctions.
For that earlier incident, Celtic’s punishment stated: “Reduction of 100 tickets from the club’s allocation in one away SPFL match, 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. Fine of £2,500. At least five Celtic supporters shall be referred to the SPFL Trust’s recognised pyrotechnic awareness course.”
Motherwell received a similarly structured suspended sanction, with the SPFL stating: “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.”
In the lower leagues, Inverness Caley Thistle and Stenhousemuir both received suspended stadium sanctions in connection with separate pitch incursion incidents.
Hamilton Accies were fined £1,000 for a pitch invasion during their clash with Caley Thistle, and received a formal warning and reprimand following a playoff win over Clyde for the same offence.
The SPFL’s decision to issue multiple suspended punishments across the divisions signals a clear effort to deter clubs and supporters from repeating such behaviour in future seasons.
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