Celtic supporters escalated their ongoing protests against the club’s hierarchy on Sunday, forcing a three-minute delay to their Scottish Premiership match against Dundee by throwing balls and oranges onto the pitch.
The travelling fans, gathered in the Bob Shankly Stand at Dens Park, began hurling hundreds of small objects — including tennis balls, bouncy balls, and pieces of fruit — moments after kick-off.
The match was halted almost immediately as players from both teams joined ground staff in clearing the penalty area, which had become littered with the debris.
This demonstration marked the latest expression of anger from sections of the Celtic support, who have become increasingly vocal in their criticism of the club’s board in recent months.
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Banners have regularly appeared at Celtic Park demanding change, while silent protests have been staged at several fixtures this season.
During the stoppage in Dundee, supporters unveiled a large banner reading, “Your incompetence is clear. Resign,” alongside another showing the faces of chairman Peter Lawwell, chief executive Michael Nicholson, principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, and finance director Chris McKay.
Both Nicholson and McKay were reportedly present in the directors’ box at the match.
Celtic fans made their feelings clear during Sunday's Scottish Premiership match with Dundee
|SKYSPORTS
Chants of “Sack the board” rang out as stewards and players worked to remove the balls scattered across the field.
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was seen gesturing to the fans to calm down, but the protests continued.
Captain Callum McGregor, along with Benjamin Nygren, Reo Hatate, and Cameron Carter-Vickers, helped gather the objects so play could resume. Several Dundee players also assisted.
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Celtic and Dundee players took the oranges and balls off the field
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Sky Sports pundit James McFadden, commentating on the game, said he expected the unrest to continue.
“I don’t think this will be the last protest we see from the Celtic fans,” he said.
“Point made. It’s going to take a while to get all those balls off the pitch. The players just want to get on with the game.”
The disruption briefly overshadowed the match itself, which eventually resumed after the playing surface was cleared.
It was the latest in a series of demonstrations aimed at Celtic’s leadership, whose handling of club affairs — including transfer decisions and strategic planning — has drawn widespread criticism from sections of the fanbase.
This was not the first time Dens Park has hosted a protest of this kind.
Celtic fans continue their protests against the board at Dens Park today @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/RFMDr5LbqT
— Fitba Culture 🏴 (@fitbaculture) October 19, 2025
Celtic fans carried out a similar act in 2021 when they threw tennis balls onto the same pitch in opposition to the club’s proposed appointment of former police chief Bernard Higgins to a senior role.
On that occasion, the message was a rejection of what supporters viewed as an out-of-touch board failing to engage with its fanbase.
Even Dundee’s ground has become a recurring stage for football activism.
Rangers supporters once adopted a similar method there to object to a proposed overseas friendly against Celtic, organised by their own club’s board.
Sunday’s incident, however, appeared to symbolise a deepening frustration among Celtic fans, whose relationship with those running the club continues to fracture.
While Brendan Rodgers and his players attempted to focus on matters on the pitch, the atmosphere off it reflected a growing sense of distrust and disillusionment that shows no sign of easing.