A planned gathering of Celtic Football Club’s shareholders erupted into disarray on Friday, forcing an abrupt end to the formal business after just twenty-five minutes. The meeting was overwhelmed by vocal protests from supporters, who directed their anger at the club’s leadership.
The atmosphere turned hostile as directors arrived, met with a chorus of boos, chants demanding the board’s removal, and the visual protest of shareholders holding aloft red cards. Following a brief, unsuccessful adjournment, the event was terminated before any official club resolutions could be addressed or a scheduled question-and-answer session could begin.
In a prepared statement read during the adjournment, Ross Desmond, son of the club’s principal shareholder, condemned the behavior of those protesting. He defended the board and executive team, describing criticism aimed at them as “shameful” and asserting their dedication to the club.
The club later issued a statement expressing regret over the disruption, blaming “the continuing disruptive conduct of a small number of individuals” for depriving shareholders of a constructive forum. It is understood the club may now conduct its necessary annual business privately.
This public display of discontent underscores a period of significant turbulence for the Scottish Premiership side. Fans’ frustrations have been mounting, fueled by perceived failures in the summer transfer market and a prolonged managerial vacancy following Brendan Rodgers’s departure in late October. The club currently sits second in the league table, seven points behind leaders Hearts.
Interim manager Martin O’Neill, who witnessed the events, later described the scene as “a really sad morning,” questioning what iconic former manager Jock Stein, a proponent of club unity, would have made of the division on display.
With the search for a permanent manager ongoing and fan relations at a low ebb, the incident marks a stark moment of internal crisis for one of Scotland’s most storied football institutions.