Celtic interim chairman Brian Wilson has launched a blistering defence of the club following the SPFL's sanctions for the pitch invasion after the title-winning match against Hearts. The Parkhead club was fined £7,500 and warned of a 1,000-seat reduction for a future home game if there is a repeat.
Wilson's Explosive Response
Wilson insisted the accusations that Hearts players were assaulted have been proven false, and the criticism came from those with an anti-Celtic agenda. He said: 'We took a conscious decision not to join in exchanges of words with anyone. We were celebrating winning a Double, and we were not going to get bogged down in an absurd series of debates about issues that didn't really exist.'
He added: 'It was all rubbish, and yet people who should have known better, or people with axes to grind, made this into a running narrative until it ran out of steam. None of these issues that were turned into great mountains of artificial controversy held any water whatsoever.'
SPFL Sanctions Detailed
The SPFL statement warned: '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.'
For the Motherwell match, the SPFL said: 'Reduction of 100 tickets from the club’s allocation in one away SPFL match, suspended until 30 June 2027, to be triggered by either the orchestrated or excessively dangerous use of pyrotechnics by away fans or a significant pitch incursion by away fans. Fine of £2,500. At least five Celtic supporters shall be referred to the SPFL Trust’s recognised pyrotechnic awareness course.'
Motherwell were also punished: '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 the orchestrated or excessively dangerous use of pyrotechnics by home fans or a significant pitch incursion by home fans. Fine of £2,500. At least five Motherwell supporters shall be referred to the SPFL Trust’s recognised pyrotechnic awareness course.'
Wilson concluded: 'What matters is we won a Double in great style.'
