Dermot Desmond was targeted at the Alfred Dunhill Links tournament in St Andrews, where tennis balls with pictures of his face scored out were thrown onto the green of the 15th hole. The 76-year-old had to be escorted off the course by security. The protest has pushed long-running anger over Celtic's governance, transfer business and European form into public view.

The protest at St Andrews

The Celtic Fans Collective said Desmond had been allowed to run the club while using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability. They added that fans had used the chance to send a message that the arrangement cannot continue.

Ross Desmond, his son, responded by saying the family had been bullied by aggressive and irrational criticism. He also said attempts to dehumanise and vilify Celtic executives were shameful, while defending his father as a lifelong and passionate Celtic supporter.

The scene at St Andrews matters because it was not just another online flare-up or an AGM complaint. Supporters took the protest to a public sporting event, and the images and footage released afterwards gave it a wider reach.

Celtic's results have not stopped the anger

On the field, Celtic's numbers remain strong. They lead the Premiership with 18 points from 7 matches and have won 6 of those 7 league games. The unrest is not being driven by a domestic collapse.

European frustration still sits in the background. Celtic are 28th in the UEFA Europa League with 0 points from 1 match, which keeps that part of the criticism alive. Last November's annual general meeting was abandoned because of fan unrest, so the tension around Desmond has been building for a while.

BBC also reported that Desmond was blamed for the problems that marred the beginning of the 2025/26 campaign after Brendan Rodgers' resignation at the beginning of last season. That is the allegation hanging over him, and it is the one supporters are now taking beyond the stadium and into public view.

The latest flashpoint is simple enough to identify. Desmond was targeted in St Andrews, escorted off the course, and Celtic's wider fan dispute has now reached the fairway as well as the terraces.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →