Sky forced into apology after Celtic title win and pitch invasion | Football | Sport
Sky Sports were forced to issue an apology for explicit language used by Alistair Johnston in the aftermath of Celtic’s Scottish Premiership title win. The Bhoys went head to head with Hearts at Celtic Park on Saturday afternoon with all the marbles to play for.
Celtic headed into the encounter just a point shy of the Jambos, albeit with a victory needed as a result of Heart’s better goal difference. Lawrence Shankland gave the visitors a glimmer of hope with a free header at the back post to make it 1-0 as half-time approached, only for Arne Engels to equalise from the penalty spot moments later. After a tense second-half of action, Daizen Maeda gave Celtic the lead from close range, as Hearts fought endlessly to claw a goal back, knowing what was at stake.
In the final minute of stoppage time, Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow entered the Celtic box to try to capitalise on a last-ditch set-piece, only to leave his box unguarded in doing so. The ball then broke to Callum Osman, who burst goalward before tapping into the back of an empty net.
Chaos ensued inside the stadium as Celtic fans stormed the pitch, despite the full-time whistle not quite being sounded. Jubiliation at Celtic Park was at an all-time high as dejected Hearts players left the field, Martin O’Neill and his players celebrating among supporters.
And the atmosphere evidently carried into Johnston’s post match interview, as he spoke with Sky Sports. He said: “Normally when you say there’s no words to describe it…I mean, what in the world was that? It’s the best feeling ever when you realise you’ve got an empty goal and you’re running it in, lads are sprinting up the side [of the pitch], I mean it’s the greatest league win – it’s got to be of all time.
“I mean we’ve won a lot of leagues here but that – there’s something about this club that – never count us out: it didn’t matter what minute it was, it didn’t matter how many defenders we had on the pitch, who was on the pitch. We just felt that we were gonna ******* find a way. Sorry, apologies.”
The Sky Sports interviewer immediately issued an apology for the language used, before continuing with the conversation. Paying complements to O’Neill, meanwhile, he added: “He’s a winner, I’ll tell you that much.
“Listen to this place. You’ve just got to build a statue, it’s as simple as that. You’ve just got to build it. He just finds a way to win. It’s been unbelievable playing for him this year, I’m just so happy that we’re able to give him this and now we’ve got a cup final to win next week.”
