3 godzin temu
Celtic fans threw tennis balls and oranges onto the pitch during their match against Dundee, forcing a three-minute delay to the start of Sunday's game at Dens Park. The dramatic protest was directed against the club's board and ownership, highlighting escalating tensions between supporters and Celtic's hierarchy.
Players from both teams, including Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and captain Callum McGregor, helped clear the debris from the playing surface before the match could begin. The organized demonstration marked the latest escalation in an ongoing campaign against the club's leadership.
Fan anger reaches new heights
The protest stems from months of frustration over limited summer transfer spending and Celtic's failure to reach the Champions League league phase. The Celtic Fans Collective has been leading a "Not Another Penny" campaign, encouraging supporters to boycott merchandise, food, and drinks at Celtic Park.
According to reports, banners specifically targeted board members Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson, Dermot Desmond, and Chris McKay, with Nicholson and McKay present at the match. The fans' collective has compiled an extensive list of grievances against the board.
Board failures highlighted
The Celtic Fans Collective announced their campaign with strong criticism: "For too long, the Celtic board has taken supporters for granted. They are responsible for repeated failures in Europe, an archaic transfer strategy, a collection of NEDs who have grossly out-stayed their welcome, inflated ticket prices and unfair distribution, a neglected stadium, a stale atmosphere, a non-existent fan engagement model, an underperforming academy, an underfunded Women's team, and a pitch unfit for playing football the Celtic way."
The group dismissed the board's claim to be "world class in everything we do" as a mockery. This follows a previous protest in September when supporters staged a late entry to their match at Kilmarnock.
Mixed reactions to protest
Manager Brendan Rodgers previously expressed understanding of fan frustrations, saying: "You can't tell anyone how to feel. If you're bringing your kids and you want them to be in the stands for the start of the game, then supporters are within their rights. We're keen to make the football united and the spirit of the team. The fans and the board and the situation, I fully understand it and the frustration."
However, not all Celtic figures support the protest methods. Chris Sutton criticized the demonstration as "idiotic," according to reports, representing a counter-perspective within the Celtic community.
Reports suggest this isn't the first time Dens Park has witnessed Celtic fan protests, with similar demonstrations occurring in 2021 over board appointments. The latest incident demonstrates how supporter unrest continues to manifest at away grounds across Scotland.
Sources used: "Daily Mail", "GBNews", "Daily Record" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
