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.
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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.
