Footage surfaces of alleged pre-match fight near Celtic Park.

Video footage has reportedly emerged showing a disturbance outside Celtic Park ahead of Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash between Celtic and Hearts.

A reported brawl is understood to have taken place in the area around Celtic Park before the two sides met, with footage circulating following the incident. At the time the report was published, Police Scotland had been contacted for a response regarding the alleged confrontation, although no statement or response from the police had been included.

The reported incident occurred before what ultimately became a memorable afternoon for Celtic supporters inside the stadium. On the pitch, Martin O’Neill’s team produced one of their most impressive attacking displays of the season, sweeping Hearts aside with a remarkable 7-1 victory.

The result provided Celtic with another major boost in their Scottish Premiership campaign and saw them move four points clear at the top of the table. After some difficult moments earlier in the season, the emphatic victory offered supporters plenty of reasons to feel encouraged about the direction of the team.

Callum Osmand was one of the standout performers during the match. The forward was making his first professional start and made an immediate impact by finding the net twice. His performance will have pleased O’Neill and provided another positive talking point for Celtic fans following an afternoon when almost everything went the home side’s way.

Benjamin Nygren also enjoyed an outstanding afternoon, scoring twice as Celtic repeatedly exposed weaknesses in the Hearts defence. The attacker’s contribution added further evidence of the attacking quality available to O’Neill as Celtic produced the kind of performance that supporters have been demanding.

Kieran Tierney was also on the scoresheet, continuing his positive influence for the Hoops. Camilo Duran added another goal, while Hearts defender Jamie McCart put through his own net as Celtic continued to increase the pressure on their opponents.

For Hearts, Laurent Mendy managed to find the net and provided the visitors with a consolation goal, but it did little to change the overall picture of a one-sided contest. Celtic were dominant for long periods and punished Hearts whenever defensive errors presented opportunities.

The seven-goal haul represented exactly the sort of attacking football Celtic supporters have been hoping to see from their team. The Hoops played with speed, confidence and purpose, moving the ball quickly and taking advantage of mistakes made by the Hearts backline.

Celtic’s movement in the final third was particularly encouraging. The home side consistently created openings and demonstrated a willingness to attack with numbers. Whenever Hearts struggled to maintain their defensive shape, Celtic were quick to exploit the space.

That attacking intensity was reflected in the scoreline, but there were also several individual performances that stood out. Players throughout the Celtic team contributed positively, giving O’Neill plenty to be pleased about as he looks to build momentum during a demanding period of the campaign.

Another encouraging development involved Jota. The winger completed another 45 minutes as he continued his gradual return to full match fitness. His involvement will be welcomed by Celtic supporters, particularly given the quality and creativity he can potentially provide once he is ready to play a greater role.

For O’Neill, managing Jota’s return carefully will be important. Celtic have a busy schedule ahead, and having the Portuguese attacker increasingly available could provide the manager with another significant attacking option.

The emphatic victory over Hearts also gives Celtic valuable momentum heading into their next European assignment. Their attention now turns towards Thursday evening, when Celta Vigo arrive for a crucial European meeting.

Celtic will be hoping that the confidence generated by the Hearts performance can carry into that match. The Hoops need a positive result and, more importantly, require three points from the European encounter as they look to strengthen their position in the competition.

The contrast between the reported scenes outside the stadium and what happened on the pitch was stark. While the alleged confrontation has generated attention away from the football, Celtic’s performance inside Celtic Park provided supporters with something far more positive to discuss.

Celtic’s Camilo Duran celebrates scoring their side’s sixth goal during the William Hill Premiership match at Celtic Park, Glasgow. Picture date: Sunday October 18, 2026.

O’Neill will now want his players to ensure Sunday’s result was not simply an isolated performance. A 7-1 victory can provide a significant psychological lift, but maintaining that level of intensity and concentration will be the real test.

Celtic have moved four points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, and the result against Hearts could prove important in building momentum. The attacking display, the return of Jota and the emergence of players such as Osmand all provide reasons for optimism.

However, Thursday’s European test presents a completely different challenge. Celta Vigo will demand concentration, discipline and quality, and Celtic cannot afford to rely solely on the confidence gained from their domestic victory.

The priority for O’Neill and his squad will therefore be to reproduce the positive elements of their Hearts performance while improving in the areas that require greater consistency.

For Celtic supporters, Sunday ultimately delivered a spectacular result, with seven goals and several impressive individual displays. Now the expectation will be for the team to follow it up on the European stage.

If Celtic can carry the same attacking confidence into Thursday’s meeting with Celta Vigo, they could have an opportunity to turn an already encouraging weekend into a significant boost for the remainder of their campaign.