O'Neill hits back at 'nonsense' criticism of Celtic pitch invasion in frosty interview

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has scoffed at Hearts' suggestion the pitch invasion at Celtic Park was 'an embarrassment' to Scottish football.

In a heated back-and-forth with talkSPORT host Jim White on Monday's edition of White and Jordan, O'Neill went as far as describing Hearts' frustrations as 'nonsense'.

Hordes of Celtic fans stormed the pitch after Callum Osmand scored in the seventh-minute of second-half stoppage time to secure a 3-1 win over Hearts and subsequently the Scottish Premiership title.

But a number of the Hoops supporters appeared to take things a step too far, as several looked to get up in the faces of distraught Hearts players who went into Saturday's fixture with hopes of winning the club's first Scottish Premiership crown since 1960.

Such was the chaos, Hearts players, who were hurried down the tunnel for their own safety, didn't even get the opportunity to change out of their match kit before getting on the team bus and returning to Edinburgh.

Hearts voiced their frustrations in a strongly-worded statement that was released on Saturday evening, where they called for the 'strongest action possible to be taken'.

But O'Neill has now had his say exclusively on talkSPORT, where he defended the 'obvious excitement' from fans having witnessed their team win a record 56th Scottish Premiership title.

Full clash between Jim White and Martin O'Neill

Jim White: "There is a suggestion that this shows a lack of class, that it's tainted the image…"

Martin O'Neill: "I'm sorry, I totally disagree with that. I don't know about the confrontations in terms of the Hearts players, and there's a lot of hyperbole about that, let's find out the real picture.

"The fact is that when we scored the third goal, the game was essentially over, there were about eight seconds left, or whatever the case may be. The referee has claimed that he had blown the final whistle at the end. And then there's obvious excitement, we have scored to win the league…"

JW: "Yeah, but they shouldn't have come on the pitch, Martin, should they?"

MON: "Well, start telling that to every single football club…"

JW: "Well, hang on a second Martin, Hearts called it an embarrassment to Scottish football, do you agree this was?"

MON: "As they might do. Well, I don't believe that, I just don't believe it, I think it's nonsense."

JW: "How's it nonsense though, Martin, when some fans are up confronting Hearts players?"

MON: "I assumed that the final whistle had gone at exactly the same moment that we put the ball in the net for the third goal. It's a home game and we'd just won the league, and the fans have come onto the field, alright? Okay, so they should stay put then?"

JW: "Have you spoken to Derek McInnes since winning it?"

MON: "No. We've shaken hands and I have given him praise, which he has deserved."

JW: "At the end of the day though, Martin, again, I can't let this go. It seems that in certain quarters within the stadium, all discipline was lost, and some fans just… it was a free for all."

MON: "What do you mean, a free for all?"

JW: "If you fancied going on the pitch, you could go on the pitch. Those who fancied going on, went on."

MON: "Was there not a scene at Ibrox where both sets of fans came onto the pitch?"

JW: "And we called that out as well, Martin."

MON: "Yeah, alright, well done. Well, I'll tell you what I'll do. Let me have a look at the picture, let me have a look as if I'm the judge and jury of these particular things. Let me see the scenes at the end of the day, and then I'll come back to you, okay?"

JW: "That's fair enough, Martin, that's fair enough."

What's next in the fallout from Celtic v Hearts?

Although the Scottish Premiership is now complete for another season, the dust from Saturday's contest has far from settled.

There was debate in some quarters whether Saturday's match had finished when fans entered the field or if it was abandoned by referee Don Robertson.

In a statement released on Sunday, the SPFL confirmed the match was indeed called to an end by Robertson rather than being abandoned due to the pitch invasion.

"However, we utterly condemn the scenes which saw a number of Celtic supporters encroach onto the field of play," the statement read.

"We await the report of our match delegate regarding any specific incidents that took place but, regardless, supporters entering the field of play in any circumstances is wholly unacceptable and puts those participating and working at a match at risk.

"We note that entering the pitch in England and Wales has been a criminal offence since 1991."

Hearts also confirmed as part of their statement on Saturday they were 'fully investigating' reports of 'serious physical and verbal abuse' towards their players and staff at Celtic Park and are in conversations with Police Scotland.

Click here to read article