The Scottish Football Association released official audio-visual footage on Friday, May 22, 2026, confirming full support for referee Don Robertson following his decision to end the final-day Scottish Premiership title decider between Celtic and Heart of Midlothian.
The governing body reviewed the match footage alongside Hearts Chair Calum Paterson before determining that the match official acted properly under the Laws of the Game.
The physical confrontation intensified when Celtic supporters rushed onto the pitch after Callum Osmand scored a late goal to secure a 3-1 victory for the hosting team.
The Scottish FA clarified that the referee chose to end the match rather than abandon it after consulting directly with Hearts Head Coach Derek McInnes regarding the safety of the players.
According to official match records, the final whistle blew at 53.07 minutes in the second half, which exceeded the minimum eight minutes of added time signaled during the game.
Calum Paterson, Chair of Heart of Midlothian, stated in an official letter to the governing body that the match ended prematurely.
Hearts officials expressed deep concern that allowing pitch invasions to dictate match durations sets a dangerous precedent for future league fixtures.
The Scottish FA statement said the referee took correct action in ending the game.
The association noted that the official match clock does not pause during goal celebrations, which justified the exact timing of the final whistle.
Law 5 of the IFAB Laws of the Game states that the decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are final.
The governing body emphasized that the match official communicated the conclusion of the game clearly to both teams on the pitch.
"We fully support the decisive action taken by Don Robertson and his team to end the game," added the governing body.
The SFA confirmed that the Match Incident Report verified the precise sequence of events during the final moments of the fixture.
The association noted that in the context of what unfolded – which is verified by the footage and the Match Incident Report submitted to the Scottish FA – the match official clearly communicated that the match was ended and not abandoned.
The statement followed broader security concerns after a 19-year-old man was charged for leaking referee John Beaton's personal data online prior to this fixture.
Derek McInnes, Hearts Head Coach, intimated concerns over player safety during his direct dialogue with the referee on the pitch.
Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom separately alleged that home supporters physically assaulted the visiting players during the post-goal chaos.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill dismissed the external criticism surrounding the pitch invasion as nonsense.
The Celtic manager further argued that the allegations concerning physical assault against the visiting players remained entirely unproven.
"Not been proved," added Martin O'Neill.
The Scottish Senior Football Referees' Association issued a concurrent warning demanding stronger regulatory frameworks and meaningful sanctions from authorities to protect officials from threats.
The referees' union stated that irresponsible commentary from some managers, clubs and sections of the media has only served to fuel an already toxic environment.
The referees' union emphasized that dangerous fan behavior must be stopped before an official or player sustains severe physical injuries.
The organization added that pitch invasions must never be accepted as the norm.
The union warned that referees face disproportionate abuse that extends far beyond legitimate football debate.
"We accept scrutiny is a part of football, but what we have witnessed in the last month has been entirely disproportionate and crossed the line from legitimate debate into behaviour risking the safety of officials and their family," said the referees' association.
The organization stated that personal attacks and intimidation have no place within Scottish society or sports culture.
"No referee should be subjected to this abuse, intimidation, threats or the leaking of private information simply for carrying out their duties.
Such conduct has no place in Scottish football or society more generally," noted the association.
The union called on football authorities to significantly strengthen current disciplinary rules to serve as a strong deterrent against future misconduct.
"We also note with particular concern the unacceptable behaviour of supporters entering the field of play.
This dangerous and abhorrent behaviour must never be accepted as the norm," stated the referees' union.
The association reiterated that match officials operate under intense pressure and deserve identical protections given to players.
"We call on the relevant authorities to significantly strengthen their regulatory framework so that meaningful sanctions can be imposed, both as a punishment and as a strong deterrent, before such time as a match official or player suffers serious harm," said the union.
The referees' body concluded that the local football environment cannot thrive if personal attacks against officials continue without consequences.
"Referees perform a difficult role in an intensely demanding environment and deserve the same respect, and protection afforded to everyone else in the game," stated the organization.
The referees' union concluded its assessment by warning that officials will evaluate future participation if safety conditions worsen.
"Scottish football cannot thrive in an atmosphere where referees are subjected to personal attacks for making decisions in the course of their duties," noted the union.
The organization plans to engage with league stakeholders to implement enhanced safety measures ahead of the upcoming football season.
"Should this behaviour continue, we will reserve all options open to us," added the referees' association.
The ongoing data protection case involving the online leak of referee information remains scheduled for a future Scottish court date.
"We urge all stakeholders to work together to ensure Scottish football remains safe for everyone involved," said the association.
