Breaking, Celtic crowned Scottish Premiership champions and Hearts relegated as SPFL end season

Celtic have been crowned Scottish Premiership champions for the ninth successive season after the SPFL opted to curtail the current campaign.
It also means Hearts are relegated to the Championship for the second time since 2014.
The SPFL held a board meeting on Monday morning where they decided to bring the season to an end, meaning a 51st league title for Celtic.
As with the Championship, League One and League Two, final season placings in the Premiership have been determined by points per game in league matches played to March 13 by each club.
Neil Lennon's side held a 13-point lead over Rangers when the season was suspended, having played one more game.

SPFL chairman: 'Only practical way forward'

The 42 SPFL clubs voted - after some controversy - in April to end the season in the Championship, League One and League Two amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
But the SPFL board were also given the power to end the season in the Premiership if it became clear the fixtures could not be played.
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Celtic champions as Scottish Prem ended
Sky Sports News reporter Charles Paterson has the latest as the SPFL announces the end of the Scottish Premiership season, crowning Celtic as champions and meaning Hearts are relegated.
Sky Sports News reporter Charles Paterson has the latest as the SPFL announces the end of the Scottish Premiership season
After ratifying the decision to end the top-flight campaign, SPFL chairman Murdoch MacLennan said: "Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to officially congratulate Celtic on their achievement of winning the Ladbrokes Premiership this season, and also to sincerely commiserate with Hearts on their relegation.
"We would all have rather seen the league season played out on pitches, in stadiums and in front of supporters. This is not the way anybody involved with Scottish football would have wanted to conclude the league season but, given the grave and unprecedented circumstances that we are facing, the board has agreed that it is the only practical way forward.
Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on sporting competitions around the world and the repercussions will be felt for a long time. Scottish Government restrictions and deep concerns for both player and spectator safety left the SPFL with no realistic option but to call the Ladbrokes Premiership now and we thank the Premiership clubs for their support on this decision."
The SPFL must now explain to UEFA why it has ended Premiership season early and who it nominates for 2020/21 Champions League/Europa League qualification.
European football's governing body asked Europe's top leagues to provide restart dates and format by May 25, with a "strong recommendation" for seasons to be completed even if required a change of format.
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said: "On Friday, Ladbrokes Premiership clubs expressed their clear and unanimous view that there was no realistic prospect of completing the outstanding fixtures from season 2019/20.
"The SPFL board met on Monday morning and in line with the express agreement of member clubs in April, the board determined that league season 2019/20 and the Ladbrokes Premiership be brought to an end.
"This decision now enables us to pay out around £7m in fees to help clubs stay afloat during this incredibly difficult time. We will begin processing these payments immediately.
"The focus of all those involved in the game will now turn to how we get football up and running again safely as soon as possible."
He added: "Nobody should be under any illusion as to how complicated and difficult a challenge it will be to return Scottish football to normality.
"We will be liaising with government on the best way forward and working to ensure that all of our 42 clubs are playing football again as soon as humanly possible."
The Scottish season has not been completely cancelled, however.
The SFA remains committed to completing the Scottish Cup, with the tournament at the semi-final stage.

Hearts threaten legal action

Hearts were four points adrift at the foot of the Premiership when the season was suspended on March 13
Hearts were four points adrift at the foot of the Premiership when the season was suspended on March 13
Hearts are considering legal action following the "unjust" decision to relegate them from the Scottish Premiership. Hearts were four points adrift at the foot of the Premiership when the season was suspended on March 13, resulting in their second relegation in six years.
A statement from Hearts suggests they will challenge that decision, while they have also not given up on a restructuring of the league.
The statement read: "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.
"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."

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