The Scottish Football Association (SFA) has released video and audio from the final moments of the dramatic final-day Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Hearts to confirm that referee Don Robertson did indeed end the game after consulting with Hearts head coach Derek McInnes. The match ended with a 3-1 victory for Celtic following a late goal by Callum Osmand, prompting Celtic fans to flood the pitch.

Hearts' Concerns and SFA's Response

The SFA stated that Robertson took the "correct action in ending the game." However, Hearts shareholder Tony Bloom claimed that Tynecastle players were assaulted by Celtic fans. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill dismissed these accusations as "nonsense," stating that the allegations have "not been proved."

Hearts also raised concerns about the "premature" end to the match, with Robertson signaling for full time despite there appearing to be 30 seconds left of the minimum eight minutes of stoppage time. The club expressed their concerns in a statement to the SPFL and SFA, saying a troubling precedent had been set.

The SFA noted that McInnes "intimated concerns over player safety," which means the game was ended without adding on the usual extra time for a goal celebration. "We fully support the decisive action taken by Don Robertson and his team to end the game," the SFA added.

Referees' Association Weighs In

After a controversial late penalty was awarded to Celtic against Motherwell in the penultimate round of league fixtures, referee John Beaton was placed under police surveillance after his personal details were leaked online. Last week, Police Scotland confirmed that a 19-year-old man has been charged "in connection with a data protection offense" and will appear in court at a later date.

The Scottish Senior Football Referees' Association (SSFRA) released a statement saying that "irresponsible commentary from some managers, clubs and sections of the media has only served to fuel an already toxic environment." The SSFRA also condemned "unacceptable" pitch invasions and said they will reserve all options if these incidents continue.

"We accept scrutiny is 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," the SSFRA said. "No referee should be subjected to this abuse, intimidation, threats or the leaking of private information simply for carrying out their duties."

The SSFRA called on the relevant authorities to strengthen their regulatory framework to impose meaningful sanctions as both punishment and deterrent before a match official or player suffers serious harm.