Celtic Football Club has condemned a pre-planned protest against majority shareholder Dermot Desmond at a high-profile golf event and severed all ties with the fan group responsible. The club stated the Celtic Fans Collective can no longer credibly represent supporters following the incident at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in St Andrews on Friday.
Tennis balls with the 76-year-old Desmond's image defaced were thrown onto the green of the 15th hole during the pro-am competition. Images from the scene showed Desmond later being escorted from the course by security personnel. The club described the action as premeditated and unacceptable, saying it was discussed and planned in advance by the collective's committee using group funds for materials.
Club takes decisive action
Celtic said it will indefinitely ban anyone established to have been involved in planning, facilitating or participating in the protest. The club declared it will cease all engagement with the Celtic Fans Collective with immediate effect. A statement from the club confirmed the collective is no longer recognised as a representative body speaking on behalf of Celtic supporters.
The protest comes at a sensitive time for the club, which sits first in the Scottish Premiership with 18 points from seven games. That position, two points clear of rivals Rangers, is under pressure after a run of three consecutive defeats before the international break. Those losses included a 3-0 defeat at Ibrox and a 3-1 home loss to Ferencvaros in the Europa League.
Desmond, the club's largest individual shareholder, has faced sustained criticism from sections of the support over European performance and transfer strategy. At the club's annual general meeting last November, which was abandoned due to fan unrest, his son Ross read a statement on his behalf defending the board. The Irish businessman had previously blamed former manager Brendan Rodgers for problems at the start of the 2025-26 campaign and criticised what he called aggressive and irrational criticism from some fans.
The club's statement represents a firm attempt to draw a line under the disruption and refocus on football. Manager Martin O'Neill's side will seek to end its losing streak when it travels to face ninth-placed Motherwell on 11 October. The squad, which includes top scorer C. Durán, will be looking to consolidate its league lead. Supporters can check the latest team news and availability on the club's injuries page ahead of the trip to Fir Park.
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