Scottish FA backs referee after pitch invasion ends Celtic–Hearts title decider

The Scottish Football Association has said referee Don Robertson 'took the correct action' when he ended the Premiership title‑deciding match between Celtic and Hearts at Parkhead after a pitch invasion. The decision came during the fixture and was confirmed by the governing body in a statement reported by Sky Sports Football on 21 May 2026.

Why it matters

A referee ending a high‑profile title decider because of a pitch invasion carries immediate consequences for the result’s legitimacy, supporter safety discussions, potential disciplinary action and the competition’s administrators. The Scottish FA’s public backing reduces immediate uncertainty over the referee’s judgement but leaves open questions about follow‑up action, any sanctions and how the final result will be formalised.

What the Scottish FA said

According to Sky Sports Football, the Scottish FA reviewed the circumstances and concluded that Don Robertson, the match referee, took the correct action to end the game when he did. The supplied metadata does not include the full text of the association’s statement, exact reasoning, or whether the decision to abandon or terminate the fixture was taken unilaterally by the referee or following consultation with match officials or competition delegates.

Immediate implications and unanswered questions

The report confirms the governing body’s judgement on the referee’s conduct but does not provide detail on the timing of the pitch invasion, the scale of the disturbance, whether the match had reached full time or remained in progress, or how the result will be recorded by the Scottish Premiership. There is also no information in the supplied source metadata about responses from Celtic, Hearts, or any statement from the referee himself.

• Scottish FA publicly said referee Don Robertson 'took the correct action' to end the Celtic–Hearts match.
• The game was ended due to a pitch invasion at Parkhead, according to the report.
• Sky Sports Football published the report on 21 May 2026.

Without the full statement or club reactions, it is not possible from the supplied information to say whether the fixture will be replayed, the result allowed to stand, or if any disciplinary measures will follow for fans or clubs. The Scottish FA’s endorsement, however, signals that the referee’s decision is officially supported while any further processes take place.

What happens next

Further clarity will require the Scottish Premiership or clubs to publish decisions about the match result and any sanctions. Independent match reports, the full Scottish FA statement and comments from Celtic, Hearts or match officials are needed to confirm how the incident affects the title race and whether any sporting or disciplinary action will follow.