Furious Celtic issue sharp statement about Dermot Desmond after St Andrews incident

Celtic have issued a strongly worded response after principal shareholder Dermot Desmond was targeted during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

The 76-year-old Irish businessman was taking part in the prestigious golf tournament on Saturday when his round was disrupted on the 15th green. A group of protesters, some of whom were wearing balaclavas, threw tennis balls onto the course carrying images of Desmond with a red line across his face.

The incident prompted a significant reaction, with Desmond eventually escorted away from the area while police were also called to deal with the situation.

Celtic supremo Dermot Desmond, right, was playing with Brooks Koepka at St Andrews. | Getty Images

Celtic have now publicly condemned what happened and accused the Celtic Fans Collective of being involved in organising the protest.

Celtic say protest crossed a line

The club described the incident as a deliberate and planned act of disruption and made clear that it believes the protest went far beyond legitimate criticism of the club’s ownership and board.

According to Celtic, the demonstration had been discussed beforehand at a meeting involving the Celtic Fans Collective committee.

The club claims minutes from that meeting recorded proposals to disrupt the St Andrews event using tennis balls and banners. Celtic also alleged that supporters intending to attend had been coordinated and that Collective funds were approved for protest materials.

Following the incident, the club said the Celtic Fans Collective published footage of what happened on social media alongside a statement backing both the protest and its intended message.

Celtic stressed that it has never attempted to prevent supporters from criticising the club, its directors, board or shareholders.

However, the club said supporters have a right to protest peacefully, while arguing that the events at St Andrews represented an unacceptable escalation.

Club angry over location of protest

One of Celtic’s major objections is that the protest took place away from football and outside the normal environment surrounding the club.

Celtic argued that the dispute should have remained connected to the football club rather than being taken to an international sporting event involving people who had no connection with the issues being protested.

The club described St Andrews as the home of golf and said the disruption affected participants, organisers and spectators who were entirely unrelated to Celtic’s internal disputes.

Celtic also expressed concern that the actions could cause the wider reputation of its supporters to be associated with the behaviour of a small group.

The club pointed to the worldwide reputation Celtic supporters have developed through generations of passion, loyalty and commitment.

It argued that this reputation has been built over more than a century and should not be damaged by actions carried out by individuals or organised groups.

Celtic criticise Green Brigade and Collective

The club’s statement also referred directly to the Green Brigade and those operating through the Celtic Fans Collective.

Celtic claimed that conduct over the previous year had increasingly threatened to damage the reputation of the club’s supporters.

The club pointed to repeated incidents of disruption and escalation, arguing that the St Andrews protest represented the latest and most serious example.

Celtic said such actions risk creating an inaccurate image of its supporters, despite believing that the overwhelming majority continue to express their views peacefully and responsibly.

The club also rejected the idea that any individual organisation could claim ownership of the Celtic support or speak on behalf of everyone connected with the club.

‘The Club will not be intimidated’

Celtic delivered perhaps its strongest message when it insisted that it would not allow organised disruption to dictate decisions concerning the club.

The club said it would not be intimidated or pressured into changing its approach by groups that continually escalate protests in an attempt to influence employees, directors, shareholders or other people associated with Celtic.

It drew a clear distinction between legitimate protest and deliberate disruption.

According to the club, that distinction was crossed at St Andrews.

Celtic also rejected the suggestion that the Celtic Fans Collective continues to represent the wider Celtic support, saying those responsible for Saturday’s incident do not speak for the thousands of supporters who make their opinions known in a responsible manner.

Previous attempts at engagement

The statement also highlighted previous efforts by Celtic to maintain dialogue with supporter organisations.

The club said it has repeatedly attempted to engage with supporter groups and, where restrictions have been introduced, has tried to establish opportunities for relationships to be repaired through responsible behaviour.

Celtic said representatives of the Celtic Fans Collective had most recently been invited to discussions in good faith, with the intention of addressing concerns raised by supporters.

The club described it as particularly disappointing that further organised disruption was allegedly being planned while those discussions were taking place.

Celtic also linked the latest controversy to events surrounding the Stuttgart fixture earlier in the year, claiming that constructive discussions on that occasion had similarly taken place alongside plans for disruptive activity.

Engagement with Collective ends

The club believes Saturday’s events have fundamentally damaged the basis for continued constructive engagement with the Celtic Fans Collective.

As a result, Celtic announced that it would no longer recognise the Collective as a representative organisation for supporters.

The club also confirmed that all formal engagement with the group would end immediately.

That represents a major escalation in the relationship between the club and the supporter organisation.

Celtic made clear that it remains willing to hear criticism from individual supporters and groups through appropriate channels, but said such engagement must be based on responsibility and constructive dialogue.

Indefinite bans possible

Celtic also warned that individuals involved in the St Andrews incident could face serious consequences.

The club said it is examining what happened and that anyone established to have been involved in planning, facilitating or participating in the protest could be banned indefinitely from Celtic Park.

The warning applies to individuals and groups connected with the action.

Celtic stressed that supporters do not need permission to disagree with the club’s board or its decisions.

However, the club said there is no entitlement for supporter organisations to repeatedly disrupt events, intimidate individuals or attempt to pressure the club while claiming to act on behalf of the wider Celtic support.

Celtic insists supporter engagement remains

Despite ending its relationship with the Celtic Fans Collective, the club insisted that its wider commitment to supporter engagement has not changed.

Celtic said supporters still have established ways of raising concerns and making their voices heard.

The club maintained that it remains prepared to listen to those who engage constructively and responsibly.

However, it also stressed that engagement comes with responsibilities.

The club said it would continue protecting its employees, directors, shareholders and supporters from behaviour it considers unacceptable.

The final message from Celtic was unequivocal.

The club believes the reputation created by generations of Celtic supporters must be protected and argued that no protest should be allowed to damage that legacy.

After the dramatic scenes at St Andrews and the club’s decision to sever contact with the Celtic Fans Collective, the dispute between Celtic’s hierarchy and sections of its support appears set to enter an even more intense phase.