# Tennis balls target Celtic owner at St. Andrews

> Celtic fans protest Dermot Desmond with tennis balls at golf event.
- Title: Tennis balls target Celtic owner at St. Andrews · Golf
- Summary: Celtic fans protest Dermot Desmond with tennis balls at golf event. Celtic Football Club severed ties with supporters group after fans threw tennis balls at…
- Keywords: celtic fans collective, dermot desmond, alfred dunhill links championship, st andrews, celtic football club, golf tournament, pro-am competition, sports, Tennis, balls, target, Celtic
- Source: Golf — https://golf.com/news/bizarre-tennis-ball-protest-breaks-st-andrews-soccer
- Published: 2026-10-04T08:52:37+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: celtic fans collective, dermot desmond, alfred dunhill links championship, st andrews, celtic football club, golf tournament, pro-am competition, sports
## Protest at St. Andrews
Soccer protesters threw tennis balls at Dermot Desmond during the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews.
## Desmond's role in Celtic
Dermot Desmond is an Irish billionaire and longtime majority shareholder of Celtic Football Club in Glasgow, Scotland.
## Celtic Fans Collective statement
Celtic Fans Collective said Desmond used wealth to hide from supporters and accountability.

> Dermot Desmond has essentially been allowed to run Celtic Football Club whilst using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability
## Celtic Football Club response
Celtic Football Club condemned the protest as premeditated and severed ties with the Celtic Fans Collective.

> The Club will no longer recognise the Celtic Fans Collective as a representative body speaking on behalf of Celtic supporters
## Protest impact
Individuals involved in protest will be banned indefinitely from Celtic Park.

> 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
## Protest context
The protest targeted Desmond during a golf pro-am event with business tycoons and celebrities.
## Consequence
Celtic Football Club ended all engagement with Celtic Fans Collective after protest.

> The Club will no longer recognise the Celtic Fans Collective as a representative body speaking on behalf of Celtic supporters
## Key takeaway

Celtic Football Club severed ties with supporters group after fans threw tennis balls at billionaire owner at St. Andrews golf tournament.