Furious Celtic supporters have clashed with police officers outside Celtic Park following a humiliating 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Rangers in the Old Firm derby on Saturday afternoon. Thousands of fans gathered at the stadium's front gates in a dramatic protest demanding the removal of the club's hierarchy.
Second-Half Collapse Sparks Fury
The match on January 3, 2026, began promisingly for the home side when Yang Hyun-jun scored a terrific solo goal in the 20th minute. However, the game unravelled after half-time. Rangers' Youssef Chermiti scored twice within nine minutes to turn the match on its head, before Mikey Moore sealed a memorable 3-1 victory for the visitors in the 71st minute.
The stunning collapse prompted an immediate and visceral reaction from the Celtic support. Chants of 'sack the board' echoed around Parkhead after the third goal went in, met by taunts of 'keep the board' from the travelling Rangers fans. Manager Wilfried Nancy, only appointed as Brendan Rodgers' permanent successor just over four weeks ago, also became a target, with supporters loudly chanting for him to leave.
Protest Escalates Outside Stadium
As the final whistle blew, thousands of fans streamed out of the stadium early and converged on the main doors of Celtic Park. The protest intensified with chants directed at principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, including cries of “Dermot, Dermot get to f***”.
The situation escalated further when, according to reports, a handful of corporate fans in the Walfrid Suite were seen pointing and laughing at the protesters below. This enraged the crowd, leading to attempts to charge past police lines and resulting in physical clashes.
The protest highlights a relationship between the Celtic board and its fanbase that has been strained for some time, following a dramatic flashpoint at the club's AGM late last year. The defeat leaves Celtic now six points behind league leaders Hearts, heaping immense pressure on the new manager and the executives above him.
Nancy Responds to Pressure
Speaking after the match, under-fire manager Wilfried Nancy acknowledged the disappointment but urged for unity. “It was disappointing because we deserved more today, but again, we needed more goals,” he stated.
He praised his team's first-half performance but lamented the defensive errors from throw-ins that led to Rangers' goals. “This is not about myself, this is about disappointing the fans because I know the meaning of this game,” Nancy added. “I can understand the disappointment... This is reality, but we have to stay together. We are together with the board.”
Despite his call for calm, the scenes outside Celtic Park suggest patience among the Hoops faithful has worn dangerously thin, with the board and Nancy now firmly on borrowed time following a disastrous start to his permanent tenure.
