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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Malik Ouzia

Celtic crowned champions and Hearts relegated as Scottish Premiership season ended

Celtic have been crowned Scottish champions for the ninth successive year after the Premiership season was formally ended.

The SPFL confirmed the cancellation of the remainder of top-flight fixtures following a board meeting on Monday, with the Championship, League One and League Two already having been called off.

Celtic were 13 points clear of Old Firm rivals Rangers, having played a game more, when the coronavirus pandemic forced the suspension of the season in March.

The Bhoys had already won the Scottish League Cup and reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals, where they are due to face Aberdeen. The competition remains suspended.

(Getty Images)

Hearts, who were five points adrift of safety when the shutdown began, have been relegated, while Rangers and Motherwell, who finish second and third, take Europa League places.

Rangers are still in this year’s competition – which Uefa hope may still be completed – but trail Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 after the first-leg of their last-16 tie.

Scotland follows the approach used in France, which curtailed its season last month and awarded PSG the title. Some countries, such as Holland, opted against awarding titles after voiding the season.

Elsewhere across Europe, efforts are being made to finish outstanding fixtures. In Germany, the Bundesliga resumed behind closed doors at the weekend, while Serie A, the Premier League and LaLiga are all planning to follow suit.

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