Celtic secured their fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership championship on Tuesday, edging Hearts 3-1 in a match that swung on a VAR‑assisted decision in the 87th minute.
A VAR‑induced turning point
Daizen Maeda appeared to have opened the scoring, but the referee initially ruled the goal out for offside. After a lengthy review, the decision was overturned and the goal stood, sparking jubilant scenes among the Celtic contingent.
The strike capped a dominant performance by the Glasgow side, who had already wrapped up the league title with a game to spare. The victory marked their 56th league championship and cemented a historic run of five straight crowns, a record in Scottish football.
Elsewhere, St. Pauli’s German Bundesliga campaign ended in relegation after a 3-1 loss to Wolfsburg, a result that sent the Hamburg‑based club back to the second tier. In Portugal, Hidemasa Morita received a standing ovation in his final home appearance for Sporting CP, a bittersweet farewell for the Japanese midfielder.
Celtic’s manager praised the squad’s resilience and hinted at a focus on maintaining domestic dominance while aiming for deeper runs in European competition next season. Fans across Scotland celebrated the milestone, underscoring the deep cultural significance of the club’s sustained success.