Celtic fans pelt owner Desmond with tennis balls, ultras plan boycott

📰 A 'tennis-ball protest' aimed at Celtic's major shareholder has turned the row between the club and its supporters into open warfare. 📌 Key points 🎾 On 3 October dozens of tennis balls bearing Desmond's crossed-out face landed on the Old Course's 15th green. 🏌️ Desmond was playing with his pro-am partner Brooks Koepka at the time. 🚫 The club cut ties with the fan group and threatened indefinite bans. 📢 The Green Brigade announced a boycott of Scottish Cup and home European games. 🗣️ Martin O'Neill condemned the protest: "That is not Celtic at all." 📝 What happened 🎾 During the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews on 3 October, dozens of tennis balls rained down on the 15th green of the Old Course. Each carried a sticker with a crossed-out picture of Celtic's major shareholder Dermot Desmond. GOLF.com reports that Desmond was partnering major champion Brooks Koepka in the pro-am. 🚫 After the Celtic Fans Collective claimed the protest, the club issued a statement that night. It said committee minutes recorded a proposal to disrupt the event with tennis balls and banners, so it had been planned. The club said it no longer recognises the Collective as representing the support and that anyone involved could face an indefinite ban from Celtic Park. 📢 According to the BBC, the Green Brigade called the statement "another attack on supporters" and announced a boycott of Scottish Cup matches and home European ties. The group said its members were not involved but praised those who were. The Collective claimed the statement was rushed out at Desmond's behest. 🗣️ At his press conference on 9 October O'Neill said: "I don't agree at all with what happened in St Andrews." He pointed out that Celtic fans mocked Rangers supporters for wearing balaclavas last season and were now doing the same, and called the boycott "a really sad situation". 📊 By the numbers • Protest date: 3 October (Dunhill Links third round) • Location: 15th green, Old Course, St Andrews • Boycott: Scottish Cup and home European ties • Next match: Motherwell away, 11 October 🔭 Why it matters With Celtic reeling from back-to-back defeats by Rangers, the club's most vocal supporters threatening to stay away could change the atmosphere at Celtic Park. Celtic resume at Motherwell on 11 October, with Yang Hyun-jun likely to miss out through injury.