Celtic followers throw tennis balls at membership proprietor Dermot Desmond throughout golf match

Celtic’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond had tennis balls thrown in direction of him throughout his go to to the Alfred Dunhill Links golf match at St Andrews in a protest from followers.

The 76-year-old – who has been criticised by supporters for an obvious lack of progress on the pitch – was participating within the pro-am occasion on Saturday when the disruption occurred on the inexperienced of the fifteenth gap.

Tennis balls with photos of Desmond’s face crossed out have been thrown on to the inexperienced, with Desmond then escorted off the course by safety.

The Celtic Fans Collective later released a statement on X, which included video and photos of the protest, calling for change on the prime of the membership.

“Dermot Desmond has primarily been allowed to run Celtic Football Club while utilizing his wealth to cover from supporters and accountability,” the assertion mentioned. “Fans took the possibility as we speak to ship a message that this association can’t proceed.”

On Saturday night, Celtic issued a prolonged and strongly-worded assertion towards the “premeditated motion” which “introduced disgrace upon” the identify of the membership.

The assertion learn: “Celtic Football Club has by no means sought to forestall supporters from expressing criticism of the membership, its board or its shareholders. Supporters are entitled to disagree with choices, to make their views identified and to protest peacefully. What occurred at St Andrews represents a big and unacceptable escalation.

“Those accountable have introduced disgrace upon the identify of Celtic Football Club and upon a status which generations of Celtic supporters have spent greater than a century constructing. The membership now not accepts that the Celtic Fans Collective can credibly declare to signify the broader Celtic help. Those accountable for as we speak’s occasions definitely don’t communicate for the various hundreds of Celtic supporters who categorical their views passionately, peacefully and responsibly.”

Celtic mentioned the membership wouldn’t be “intimidated or coerced by organised acts of disruption”, including “there’s a line between protest and deliberate disruption. Today that line was crossed … The membership will defend its workers, administrators, shareholders and supporters. The status of Celtic Football Club is non negotiable.”

Martin O’Neill’s aspect – who claimed the Premiership title forward of Hearts after a final-day decider final season as a part of a home double – at the moment sit prime of the desk, two factors away from rivals Rangers.

Celtic, although, misplaced the final three video games earlier than the transnational break, together with two defeats by Rangers, one at Parkhead, and have been additionally overwhelmed 3-1 at house by Ferencvaros of their opening Europa League fixture.