RAGING Celtic fans took their anti-board protests up a level today as they caused a three-minute delay to their team’s game against Dundee by throwing BALLS and ORANGES onto the pitch.
Hoops supporters have been voicing growing discontent with the club’s hierarchy in recent months.
Several banners taking aim at the blazers have been displayed at Celtic Park, with a silent protest taking place at some matches too.
Today saw Brendan Rodgers and his men take on Dundee but a ball hadn’t truly been kicked in anger before proceedings were brought to a halt.
Just after kick-off was taken, the travelling fans started lobbing everthing from from tennis balls to tiny bouncy balls and even ORANGES onto the pitch from the Bob Shankly Stand at Dens Park.
Players from both teams were forced to step in and try and clear the area, as the objects began to fill up the penalty box.
A banner was unfurled that read: “Your incompetence is clear. Resign.”
Another had the faces of Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson, Dermot Desmond and Chris McKay on it.
Nicholson and McKay were both in attendance at the match itself.
Chants of sack the board were also heard as players and groundstaff teamed up to move the balls off of the pitch amid the bizarre scenes.
Celtic goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel appeared to gesture towards the support to calm down and stop their protest, but it fell on deaf ears.
The likes of captain Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren, Reo Hatate and Cameron Carter-Vickers were also some of the first on the scene to move the thrown items.
Multiple Dundee players also came over to help.
Commentating on the game for Sky Sports, James McFadden said he doesn’t think it will be the last time we see scenes like this from the Celtic fans.
He said: “I don’t think this will be the last protest we see from the Celtic fans.
“I think you can safely say, point made.
“It’s going to take a while to get all those balls of the pitch.
“The players just want to get on with the game.”
Indeed, it isn’t actually the first time Hoops supporters have chucked balls onto the pitch in an act of protest.
They did so in another game at Dens Park back in 2021, that time in protest against the appointment of former police chief Bernard Higgins to a high profile role within the club.
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It seems Dundee’s stadium is the one that attracts such acts as Rangers fans did similar to protest against a proposed overseas friendly with Celtic being organised by their board.
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