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SFA officially releases Celtic Vs Hearts FC final whistle audio
The Scottish Football Association has officially released the final whistle audio from the dramatic Scottish Premiership title decider between Celtic F.C. and Heart of Midlothian F.C. in an attempt to clear up the huge controversy surrounding the chaotic ending at Celtic Park.
The match, which ended in a thrilling 3-1 victory for Celtic, saw the home side clinch the league title in dramatic fashion after a late goal from Callum Osmand deep into stoppage time. However, the game descended into confusion immediately after the goal as thousands of Celtic supporters flooded onto the pitch before play could restart.
Questions quickly emerged over whether referee Don Robertson had actually blown the final whistle or if the match had effectively been abandoned due to the pitch invasion.
Following complaints and statements from Hearts officials, the SFA released the official VAR and referee audio to provide transparency over the decision-making process.
According to the released audio, referee Don Robertson confirmed the match had been officially ended after discussions with Hearts manager Derek McInnes, who reportedly raised concerns about player safety amid the disorder on the pitch.
The audio reportedly captured officials stating:
“Derek McInnes is happy to finish.”
The SFA also clarified that under IFAB Law 5, referees are not specifically required to end a match with an audible whistle, as long as the referee clearly signals the conclusion of the game.
The governing body stressed that the match clock had already gone beyond the minimum eight minutes of additional time, with the official ending coming at 98 minutes and 7 seconds — seven seconds past the indicated added time.
In an official statement, the SFA backed
Robertson’s actions completely, insisting the game was “ended, not abandoned,” and that the decision was taken in the interest of player and staff safety.
The controversy sparked massive debate across Scottish football, with some supporters questioning whether Hearts were denied the chance to restart play. Others argued the referee handled an impossible situation correctly given the pitch invasion and safety concerns.
Community reactions online were heavily divided, though many fans praised the SFA for publicly releasing the audio to settle the issue.
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