Credit: Sky Sports Scotland

Harri Burton

Mon 18 May 2026 13:30, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

The Scottish FA could wait until the 2026-27 campaign to punish Celtic for yet another pitch invasion at Celtic Park.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that a points deduction is far more likely than the Hoops’ game against Hearts being replayed.

This comes after supporters flooded onto the pitch on Saturday, 16 May, moments after Callum Osmand netted a third for the home side, stealing the Scottish Premiership title from Derek McInnes’ players.

Following 250 days at the top of the table, the Jambos fell short at the final hurdle, losing 3-1 to Celtic on the final day of the season, but the fallout is only going to continue until a conclusion is reached.

Hearts may have to wait for Celtic points deduction

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former referee said: “The Scottish FA will be carrying out a review fairly quickly, I’d have thought, of what took place.

“There is a series of challenges that they must find the answer to. The fans came onto the pitch when, for what they considered to be, the end of the game. Was it the end of the game?

“The general practice is to restart the game after a goal is scored. They’ve got to clarify if the game was formally ended, and how that conclusion was reached. Or was the incursion onto the pitch the deciding factor?

“If he didn’t blow the whistle, the Scottish FA have a difficult task. Are they going to issue a replay? It’s unlikely. A dozen and one will be on planes flying across the world.

“The idea of a replay is an impossibility. I think the leaning will be towards, potentially, a points deduction at the start of next season. That might be what they consider the right outcome.”

Celtic have already been warned over points deduction

It is not even the first time in 2026 that Celtic fans have stormed the pitch, having also done so following their Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Rangers at Ibrox back in March.

Hackett was “disturbed” by scenes at Ibrox, suggesting that a points deduction might be the solution, unless the Scottish FA decide to close parts of the ground off.

Points deductions are now back on the agenda, this time for celebrating the Hoops’ dramatic final-day win over Hearts to lift the Scottish Premiership title, but there are no excuses.

The Jamobs won’t rest until there is a conclusion to the situation, especially with suggestions that referee Don Robertson never blew the whistle for full-time, rather only reacting to the pitch invasion.