Jubilant Celtic fans celebrate after Hearts' title dreams are dashed

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Jubilant Celtic fans celebrate after Hearts' title dreams are dashed1 hour ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleBenjamin RussellBBCCeltic fans gathered in the east end of Glasgow following their title victory Thousands of Celtic fans are celebrating in the streets of Glasgow after dashing Hearts' dreams of winning their first top flight league trophy in 66 years. The Hoops retained their Scottish Premiership title for the fifth year in a row with a 3-1 victory over the Edinburgh side at Celtic Park. Heart of Midlothian only needed a draw to end the 40-year dominance of Glasgow clubs but two quick goals in the final minutes secured Celtic the win they required.

Police Scotland said a number of roads in the Trongate area had been closed in anticipation of title celebrations and people were advised to avoid the area. The Gallowgate is shut between Watson Street and High Street. London Road is closed between Glasgow Cross and James Morrison Street.

The Details

High Street and Saltmarket remain open. ReutersHoops fans were thrilled as their team held onto the title for the fifth year in a rowDespite the Jambos scoring the first goal of the match, Celtic quickly equalised and two late goals - by Daizen Maeda and substitute Callum Osmand - sealed their fate. Ecstatic Celtic fans poured onto the pitch as the third goal went into the net, with Hearts players escorted down the tunnel by police and officials.

Sportscene pundit Allan Preston said some of the Celtic fans appeared to be targeting Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland. The match, which was approaching the end of the indicated eight minutes of added time, did not restart after the pitch invasion. The Hearts players and staff made a hasty exit, with some players still in their match kit on the team bus as they headed back to Edinburgh.

Asked about reports that fans had assaulted Hearts players, Celtic boss Martin O'Neill said: "If some Hearts players have been accosted, then that's just not right at all. 'We go again' - heartbreak for devastated Hearts fans"I genuinely didn't see the scenes at the end because I thought the game wasn't over, so I'm trying to push some of our fans off the pitch again to play whatever's left. "Earlier, as his team lifted the trophy, O'Neill, now aged 74, said the Celtic players and coaching staff had "given me a reason to live".

What Experts Say

Celtic captain Callum McGregor praised the mentality of his players after everyone "wrote us off". "We knew we would get a chance for sure, this is the way this group is, they just keep going and going," he said. Many Celtic fans watched the game in bars across Glasgow, among them Ian who followed the match in Connolly's.

"That was exceptional - St Martin of O'Neill delivered for his Celtic famil. Another Celtic fan, Aidan, said the result had topped the birth of his two children. "I've never experienced anything like this in my life," he said.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.