Hearts star ‘punched by fan’ after Celtic blasted for shameful pitch invasion | Football | Sport

Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland was seemingly attacked by a supporter in the chaotic scenes that overshadowed Celtic’s title triumph. The Scottish Premiership title race had come down to the final day, with Hearts aware that a draw was enough to claim their first title since 1960 – and mark the first time in over 40 years the trophy wouldn’t belong to either Celtic or Rangers.

Yet a late goal, which was confirmed following a VAR review, from Daizen Maeda and the decisive strike from Callum Osmand after the Hearts goalkeeper went up for a corner ensured the title remained in Glasgow as ecstatic home fans flooded onto the pitch. Hearts players found themselves caught up in the mayhem and were led away from the pitch, but Sky Sports cameras seemed to capture captain Shankland being struck by a supporter.

Shankland had put Hearts 1-0 up but Arne Engels equalised from the penalty spot before half-time. And Maeda scored in the 87th minute before Osmand’s finish killed the game as a contest eight minutes into stoppage time. The match was then halted with the players taken into the dressing room before referee Don Robertson decided the game would not restart.

Journalist Henry Winter congratulated Celtic and manager Martin O’Neill but added: “Shame on those fans who attacked Shankland and other Hearts players.”

Sky Sports host Eilidh Barbour said: “They [The Hearts players] have left in their full kit, they didn’t get changed and you can understand. But also, the scenes at the end where supporters came on the pitch, we are hearing reports that there were some assaults towards Hearts players.

“That is something that we do not want to see from supporters on the pitch at any time in football. It’s football at the end of the day.”

While ex-Scotland striker James McFadden added: “I understand spilling over on to the pitch with the emotion but this is unacceptable to me – going over to the players. I get emotions run high but the players should be safe on the football pitch.

“There should be no threat to safety. There will always be people that spoil it for everyone else. The majority of the fans booed those on the pitch. A player should be safe of a football pitch and not surrounded by stewards, Lawrence Shankland is almost surrounded by his team-mates to make sure nothing happens to him. That is unacceptable.”

Celtic legend Chris Sutton chimed in: “I totally agree. You can imagine how the players would have felt after such a long season and losing it at the end, the Celtic fans who got involved with the Hearts players were lucky they didn’t get a thump or two.”