Fans hurl tennis balls at Celtic’s Desmond on St Andrews green
Celtic’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond was confronted by a protest on Saturday at the Alfred Dunhill Links tournament in St Andrews, when fans hurled tennis balls bearing his crossed‑out likeness onto the 15th‑hole green, prompting security to escort the 76‑year‑old off the course.
The balls, each printed with Desmond’s face crossed out, were tossed onto the green before security moved him away. The incident unfolded during the pro‑am event, and the Celtic Fans Collective later posted video and pictures of the disruption on X.
Fans demand change at Celtic
“Dermot Desmond has essentially been allowed to run Celtic Football Club whilst using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability,” the collective wrote. “Fans took the chance today to send a message that this arrangement cannot continue.”
Martin O’Neill’s side currently sit top of the Scottish Premiership, two points clear of Rangers, but have stumbled in recent weeks, losing their last three matches before the international break – two defeats by Rangers, one at Parkhead, and a 3‑1 home loss to Ferencvaros in the opening Europa League fixture.
Club’s results and ownership scrutiny
O’Neill’s side claimed the Premiership title ahead of Hearts last season as part of a domestic double, yet the recent dip has intensified scrutiny of the club’s hierarchy.
Supporters have criticised Desmond for an apparent lack of progress on the pitch, underwhelming transfer business and the club’s European performances. He previously blamed former manager Brendan Rodgers for many of the problems that plagued the 2025‑26 campaign.
At Celtic’s annual general meeting last November – an event abandoned after fan unrest – Desmond’s son Ross read a statement defending his father as a lifelong supporter and rejecting what he called “aggressive and irrational” criticism. Ross also defended chairman Peter Lawwell and chief executive Michael Nicholson, while condemning a section of fans linked to the Green Brigade, which was recently banned, calling those individuals “bullies”.