Celtic’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond was targeted by fans during the Alfred Dunhill Links golf tournament at St Andrews when tennis balls with his face crossed out were thrown onto the 15th hole green. The 76-year-old was taking part in the pro-am event on Saturday when the protest unfolded, forcing security to escort Desmond off the course.
The demonstration came amid growing frustration among supporters over the club’s recent performances and perceived lack of progress. The Celtic Fans Collective shared video and photos of the incident on X, saying Desmond had been “allowed to run Celtic Football Club whilst using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability.”
“Fans took the chance today to send a message that this arrangement cannot continue,” the statement added.
Desmond’s involvement in Celtic’s ownership has been a source of tension, particularly after a difficult run of results. Celtic secured the Premiership title last season in a nail-biting finish against Hearts, completing a domestic double under manager Martin O’Neill. However, the club has struggled at the start of the current campaign, losing their last three matches before the international break.
Among those defeats were two losses to Rangers, including one at Celtic Park, and a 3-1 home defeat to Ferencvaros in their opening Europa League fixture. Despite these setbacks, Celtic remain top of the Scottish Premiership, two points ahead of Rangers.
The protest at St Andrews highlighted the ongoing unrest among the fanbase, who have called for change at the club’s highest levels. Desmond, one of the wealthiest figures in Scottish football, has long been a controversial figure among supporters frustrated by what they see as stagnation both on and off the pitch.
The Alfred Dunhill Links golf tournament draws many high-profile participants, and the protest was a rare public display of dissent against a major club shareholder away from the football stadium. Security intervention ensured the protest did not escalate further.
There has been no immediate response from Desmond or Celtic following the incident at the golf event. The club’s focus now returns to maintaining their Premiership position and improving their form in European competition.
According to Yahoo Sports.
