Dermot Desmond tennis ball protesters 'brought shame' on club, says Celtic

Celtic has blasted protesters who targeted majority shareholder Dermot Desmond with tennis balls in St Andrews, saying they have brought shame on the club.

The Irish businessman was taking part in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Saturday when he was targeted by protesters around 2pm.

Yellow tennis balls featuring Desmond’s face scored out were thrown onto the green by protesters.

Celtic Fans Collective said that the protest was designed to “send a message” to the majority shareholder, amid fan anger over the club’s Champions League exit and concerns over transfer signings.

Police said nobody was injured in the protest and enquiries were ongoing.

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Dermot Desmond ‘targeted with tennis balls’ in Celtic fan protest on golf course

The Irish businessman was taking part in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship when tennis balls were thrown onto the green

In a statement released on Saturday night, Celtic condemned the “premeditated” action in “the strongest terms” and said action would be taken against Celtic Fans Collective.

It said: “A group purporting to act in the interests of Celtic supporters deliberately took a dispute concerning Celtic Football Club beyond Celtic Park and beyond football, to the home of golf, and disrupted an internationally recognised sporting event involving participants, organisers and spectators who have no involvement whatsoever in that dispute.

“In doing so, those responsible have sought to attach the name of Celtic and its supporters to their conduct on a public and international stage.”

It continued: “Those responsible have brought shame upon the name of Celtic Football Club and upon a reputation which generations of Celtic supporters have spent more than a century building.”

As a result, Celtic said it would no longer recognise Celtic Fans Collective as a body speaking on behalf of supporters and will end all engagement “with immediate effect”.

The club added it was reviewing the incident and said individuals or groups found to have been involved in the protest will be banned indefinitely from Celtic Park.

The statement continued: “No supporter requires the permission of Celtic Football Club to disagree with its Board. But equally, no supporter group has an entitlement to repeatedly disrupt events, intimidate individuals or seek to coerce the Club and then claim to do so on behalf of the Celtic support.

“Celtic will continue to listen to and engage with supporters who wish to make their voices heard constructively and responsibly. There are many established channels through which supporters can do so, and today’s decision does not diminish the Club’s commitment to meaningful supporter engagement. But engagement requires responsibility. The Club will protect its employees, directors, shareholders and supporters.

“The reputation of Celtic Football Club is non negotiable.”