COVID-19: Celtic crowned champions as Scottish season ends

Celtic have been crowned champions of the 2019/20 Scottish Football Premier League (FPL) for the ninth successive season as the current campaign was abandoned.

SPFL, in a statement on Monday, said the season was adjudged and ended using the points-per-game system to finalise the standings.

“The SPFL has today announced that, following consultation with all 12 top-flight clubs, the Board of the SPFL has determined that the 2019/20 Ladbrokes Premiership has been concluded with immediate effect,” the statement read.

“As with the Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League One and Ladbrokes League Two competitions, final season placings have been determined by points per game in league matches played to 13 March 2020 by each club.

“The decision means that Celtic are crowned 2019/20 champions and Hearts have been relegated to the Ladbrokes Championship.”

With eight games to go, Celtic emerge winner of the league after securing 13 points ahead of Rangers before the suspension of football activities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Motherwell finish third while Hearts are relegated to the championship — for the second time since 2014 — as they were five points from safety at the time of football’s suspension.

However, according to Sky Sports, Hearts are threatening legal action against the SPFL over the “unjust” relegation of the club in the voided season.

“We have stated from the outset that we don’t believe it is right that any club should be unfairly penalised because of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the club said in a statement read.

“It was previously indicated that league reconstruction would not generate enough support to pass a vote between member clubs. In recent days a number of positive talks have been held with both the SPFL and member clubs and this topic is currently being revisited.

“Hearts will shortly submit a member’s resolution that we believe is a pragmatic solution to the issues the game currently faces and a way forward that the clubs can unite behind. It is our belief that this resolution, if supported, will provide an opportunity to avoid disproportionately disadvantaging – financially and otherwise – any club.”