Celtic have released a scathing statement condemning a leading fan group after Dermot Desmond was targeted at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, branding the incident an "unacceptable escalation."
The principal shareholder was competing at the golf event on Saturday at St Andrews, which involves celebrities and professional players, but his round was disrupted by supporters in balaclavas. A group lobbed tennis balls, with images of Desmond attached, onto the green as the Celtic chief played the 15th hole of the course.
Club statement condemns protest
Following the scenes, the Celtic Fans Collective released a statement on the protests alongside videos and pictures of the event and Desmond's reaction. In response, the club issued an explosive statement claiming those involved have brought "shame" on the club, and stating the Fans Collective can no longer "credibly claim to represent the wider Celtic support."
The Scottish champions' decision-makers now say they will "cease all engagement" with the supporter group and declare "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."
Premeditated action alleged
In its full statement, Celtic said: "Celtic Football Club condemns in the strongest terms the deliberate disruption which took place today at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews."
"This was a premeditated action. The Club is aware that it was discussed and planned in advance at a meeting of the Celtic Fans Collective committee. Minutes of that meeting record a proposal specifically to disrupt the event at St Andrews using tennis balls and banners, coordination with supporters intending to attend, and an agreement that Collective funds would be used towards materials for the protest."
"Following today's incident, the Celtic Fans Collective published footage of the disruption on its own social media account together with a statement supporting the action and the message it was intended to convey."
Reputation 'non negotiable'
The club said it has never sought to prevent supporters from expressing criticism, adding: "Supporters are entitled to disagree with decisions, to make their views known and to protest peacefully. What occurred at St Andrews represents a significant and unacceptable escalation."
Celtic said those responsible "have brought shame upon the name of Celtic Football Club" and that the conduct of the Green Brigade and those operating through the Celtic Fans Collective has "increasingly threatened to undermine that hard-earned reputation."
The club announced it will no longer recognise the Celtic Fans Collective as a representative body and will cease all engagement with immediate effect. It added: "Any individuals or groups who are established to be involved in planning, facilitating or participating in this action will be banned indefinitely from Celtic Park."
Celtic concluded: "The reputation of Celtic Football Club is non negotiable."
