Trouble on the golf course
Celtic principal shareholder Dermot Desmond was targeted by a fan protest during a golf tournament at St Andrews. The 76 year old was playing in the Alfred Dunhill Links pro am event on Saturday when tennis balls were thrown onto the green of the 15th hole.
The tennis balls had pictures of Desmond's face crossed out. Security had to escort Desmond off the course. A group called the Celtic Fans Collective later shared footage of the protest on social media, calling for more accountability and changes at the top of the club. Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating the incident, which happened around 2 p.m. on Saturday, and reported no injuries.
Club claims protesters brought shame
Celtic did not hold back in their response, releasing a long and strongly worded statement on Saturday evening. The club said the premeditated action of the protesters brought shame upon Celtic and its reputation. They made it clear that while fans have a right to protest peacefully, this incident crossed the line into deliberate disruption.
The club also announced they no longer accept that the Celtic Fans Collective represents the wider fan base. Celtic stated they will protect their employees, directors, and shareholders, adding that the reputation of the club is non negotiable.
Recent slump fuels fan anger
The protest comes at a tense time for the club, with supporters criticizing Desmond over an apparent lack of progress on the pitch. While Martin O'Neill's side won the Premiership title ahead of Hearts last season as part of a domestic double and currently lead the table by two points, recent results have been poor.
Celtic lost their last three matches before the international break. This run included two defeats against rivals Rangers, and a 3-1 home loss to Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
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