On the final day of the Scottish Premiership, Celtic’s 3‑1 win over Hearts at Parkhead sealed the title. Callum Osmand’s late strike left the Jambos one point ahead, prompting a jubilant pitch invasion by Celtic supporters. Referee Don Robertson subsequently blew the whistle, ending the match before any further play, officials confirmed after the incident.

Heart of Midlothian lodged a formal complaint, arguing the game ended prematurely. Their letter, signed by Chair Calum Paterson, highlighted safety concerns after the pitch invasion. The Scottish FA’s Chief Governance Officer Gary Booth, Head of Refereeing William Collum, and VAR manager Martin Atkinson reviewed the audio‑visual footage and upheld Robertson’s decision in the match.

Audio released by the SFA shows McInnes expressing willingness to finish the game for safety. The match clock read 53.07 minutes, well beyond the minimum additional time, confirming the whistle signaled an end, not an abandonment. The SFA stressed that Law 5 makes a referee’s final call irreversible, supporting Robertson’s action for the league records.

Following the incident, Celtic issued a formal apology to Hearts and pledged cooperation with investigations. Hearts’ players departed the stadium in their kits due to a “menacing and threatening atmosphere.” The event has prompted discussions on criminalising pitch invasions, with Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney calling for measures to protect players and staff.