🗞️ SPORT NEWS
Unbelievable: Martin O’Neill has finally explained why he appeared to refuse a handshake with the opposition coach, Sebastian Hoeneß, after Celtic’s tense European clash — and insists the truth is very different from what many assumed.
The post-match moment sparked instant debate, with cameras catching O’Neill walking past Hoeneß without exchanging the traditional touchline pleasantries. Social media quickly jumped to conclusions, suggesting frustration or disrespect following the hard-fought encounter.
However, the Celtic boss has now broken his silence, revealing that the situation was driven by emotion and noise rather than bad blood.
In the middle of the article, O’Neill clarified the incident in his own words:
> “I simply forget due to the atmosphere despite our performance the Celtic fans keeps on cheering and that’s so heartouching so I rushed to reciprocate before I could remember that I haven’t exchanged pleasantry with him, he is gone so I follow him down the tunnel.”
O’Neill explained that the deafening support from the travelling fans overwhelmed him in the immediate aftermath of the final whistle. Instead of heading straight for the opposition dugout, he instinctively turned toward the stands to acknowledge the supporters who had backed his side throughout the contest.
By the time he realised what had happened, Hoeneß had already made his way down the tunnel. O’Neill insists he attempted to correct the situation, but the moment had passed.
> “There was no disrespect intended whatsoever,” he added. “Sebastian is a top professional and I have great respect for him.”
The clarification has cooled the tension surrounding the episode, with many now viewing it as a simple case of post-match emotion rather than deliberate snub.
With the focus now shifting back to football matters, O’Neill and Celtic are expected to put the incident behind them as they prepare for their next challenge — while fans are reminded just how powerful the atmosphere can be when emotions run high on European nights.
