Martin O’Neill has been on the receiving end of abusive calls and messages
Martin O’Neill has disclosed that he was compelled to change his mobile phone number following a torrent of abusive messages during the end-of-season chaos in Scotland.
The Hoops manager also responded to Tony Bloom’s assertions that Hearts players were attacked during the Parkhead pitch invasion last week – describing the Jambos chief’s comments as ‘irresponsible’. O’Neill is preparing for Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final clash with Dunfermline.
However, he finds himself dealing with the aftermath of last weekend’s Premiership decider, having faced criticism from a Hearts statement for appearing to minimise the pitch incursion and the abrupt conclusion to the dramatic encounter.
O’Neill has also endured a personal bombardment following the contentious win at Motherwell which led to the final day showdown, reports the Daily Record.
He said: “I’ve changed my telephone number because it was circulated around. You want to hear some of the comments on those.
“That was from the Wednesday night. I had to change it.
“It’s not a problem but I’ve had it for 35 years and it was kind of part of me at the end of the day.
“It got circulated somewhere, but they are on tape. It was messages, texts, everything.
“That was before the game. I decided on Friday I needed to change it to concentrate on the game on Saturday.
“I might put it back again just to listen to the messages.
“I haven’t contact the police yet but I may do.
“There were only about 250 calls!”
O’Neill hit back at Hearts following Bloom’s assertion on national radio that one or two Jambos players had been subjected to attacks.
The Celtic manager stated: “I heard Tony Bloom saying that there were two players assaulted.
“It’s not true – if it is, it hasn’t been proven yet.
“I’ve watched the pictures back, and I think one of their players actually snaps a phone away from a lad and stamps on it.
“But that’s besides the point, I can understand that.
“What was remarkable about it was, pitch invasion or not, do you know how took to clear the pitch invasion? Two minutes and 50 seconds.
“For someone to say, without proof at this moment, that the players were assaulted, I think that’s irresponsible.
“If it is proved that those players had been assaulted, that’s not on.
“That’s an offence at the end of the day. I think if it’s the case, and it is proved that they’ve been hit, it would be more than an apology from us.
“If that’s the case, it’s not on. It’s not on at all.”
The Scottish FA released audio evidence on Thursday confirming Hearts manager Derek McInnes consented to ending the match.
O’Neill believes there has been heightened criticism directed at Celtic due to the club destroying Hearts’ romantic title aspirations.
He commented: “What has happened is that people have taken out the emotion of the game.
“I didn’t know what Hearts’ argument was at the end of the day.
“Because the pitch invasion had taken place? Had the game finished or not? Were we going to go back and play the last 15 seconds if that was the case?
“I also didn’t know it was the rules that the referee, Don Robertson, doesn’t have to blow a whistle to finish the game, as was proved at Leverkusen. Because Leverkusen scored another goal to put it beyond them and to win the game.
“There have been pitch invasions here in this country. There was one at Kilmarnock when Derek (McInnes) was on the pitch at the time.
“If pitch invasions are going to be universally blocked, fine. And if it’s a criminal offence to go onto the pitch, that’s something else. I’m not sure in the euphoria.
“I don’t know this for certain, but if the situation had been reversed and happened at Hearts, I think there wouldn’t have been the clamour that there has been here.
“I do agree with the football club in apologising for the Hearts players not getting the opportunity to acknowledge their own fans and for their fans to show their appreciation for their efforts.
“Regardless of all of this, Hearts’ participation has made it a season to remember.”
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