Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash between Dundee and Celtic took an unexpected turn when a wave of fan unrest led to a temporary halt in play at Dens Park.
As the match got underway, dozens of balls rained down from the away end, hurled by Celtic supporters in a planned protest aimed squarely at the club’s hierarchy.
Celtic fans delay start of match by throwing balls on pitch
The dramatic demonstration forced the referee to stop the game within minutes of kick-off. Players and staff from both sides scrambled to clear the pitch as chants of “sack the board” echoed around the stadium.
Banners slamming the board were held aloft in the stands, leaving little doubt about the fans’ frustrations. The disruption lasted around three minutes before play resumed.
That was the mood in the away section, where tensions had been simmering for weeks. Many Celtic fans are still seething over the club’s handling of the summer transfer window.
“Sack The Board” pic.twitter.com/sbsswkCvTX
— RaisedOnCeltic (@Raised_OnCeltic) October 19, 2025
Protest Highlights Growing Rift at Parkhead
The protest wasn’t just about one match. It’s the latest expression of anger from a vocal section of the Celtic faithful who believe the club failed to back manager Brendan Rodgers adequately in the transfer market.
Their discontent intensified after Celtic’s early exit from the Champions League in late August, when they were dumped out by Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, a defeat many supporters feel could have been avoided with better squad reinforcements.
The message from the terraces was loud and clear: the board is under scrutiny, and patience is wearing thin.
“We feel let down. Brendan needed backing, and he didn’t get it. This club should be competing in Europe, not bowing out in qualifiers,” said one fan outside the stadium.
On the Pitch: Title Race Tensions Build
Despite the off-pitch drama, Brendan Rodgers’ men remain in the hunt domestically. Celtic currently sit second in the Scottish Premiership, trailing leaders Hearts by five points but with a game in hand.
The road ahead is tight. With the title race heating up and the fanbase growing increasingly restless, pressure is mounting not just on the players but also on those in the boardroom.
This latest protest is likely to trigger further conversations behind the scenes at Celtic Park. Whether the board responds remains to be seen.
The scene at Dens Park wasn’t just a spontaneous outburst. It was a signal calculated and coordinated from a fanbase that feels its concerns have been ignored for too long.
And if Sunday was anything to go by, this might not be the last time we see Celtic supporters making their voices heard in this fashion.
