Celtic fan protest grips Dundee clash as Premier Sports forced to address empty seat ‘hinderance’
A boycott of the game was announced by the Celtic Fan Collective earlier this week
Large sections of Celtic Park remained empty as a supporters followed through on a planned boycott of the Scottish Cup clash with Dundee.
The Celtic Fans Collective – who are backed by more than 500 supporters club worldwide and have been vocal against the club’s decision-makers throughout the campaign – urged fans to stay away from the cup showdown. In a scathing statement earlier this week, the Hoops fan movement demanded the removal of chief Michael Nicholson while calling for ultras group the Green Brigade to be reinstated within Celtic Park ahead of the plans to snub the clash wit
It follows on from last month’s protest which saw hundreds of fuming punters protested outside Parkhead for hours after the game calling for Nicholson, finance officer Chris McKay and principal shareholder Dermot Desmond to go. Earlier this week, interim chatrman Brian Wilson attempted to defuse the situation.
He made an emotional plea for peace at Parkhead ahead of a planned Celtic fan boycott. He also revealed talks were planned with fan groups.
But the irked punters followed through with the boycott of the game in Glasgow’s East End with large sections of the home stands remaining empty. The scenes forced broadcaster Premier Sports to address the impact.
Commentator Rory Hamilton said: “There are a number of empty seats in Celtic Park. That fan boycott does seem to have had some kind of effect.”
Former Hibs and Hearts star Michael Stewart added: “You just need to look around to see the effect it has had., really.
“A lot of empty seats. I would say it’s not going to be a hinderance for Dundee, that’s for sure.
If the Dens Park side do start brightly the fans that are here are going to make themselves heard. Definitely, it’s far from ideal for the home team.”
Celtic fans staged a protest during their match against Dundee, throwing balls and oranges onto the pitch, causing a brief delay. The protest, organized by the Celtic Fan Collective, aimed to express frustration with the club’s management, particularly regarding transfer policies and European exits. The fans chanted “Sack the board” and displayed banners with messages like “Your incompetence is clear. Resign” ¹ ² ³.
The match, which Dundee won 2-0, was halted for about three minutes as players and staff cleared the pitch. Manager Brendan Rodgers refused to blame the protest for the team’s performance, instead focusing on individual mistakes and poor execution ⁴.
The Celtic Fans Collective has announced plans for further protests, citing the need for change in the boardroom. The group expressed disappointment with the team’s recent results and urged the club to take fan concerns seriously
Celtic fans are still reeling from the recent protests against the club’s board, with the Celtic Fans Collective announcing a series of silent protests at upcoming matches. The protests are in response to the club’s perceived lack of transparency and poor transfer decisions, with fans demanding changes in the boardroom ¹ ² ³.
The Collective has been vocal about their demands, including the removal of CEO Michael Nicholson and Chairman Peter Lawwell, and has organized several protests, including a silent protest at the Europa League match against SC Braga. The board has agreed to meet with the Collective, but fans remain skeptical, citing past broken promises ⁴ ⁵ ⁶.
The protests have had an impact, with some fans boycotting matches and merchandise sales dropping. The Collective’s message is clear: they want meaningful change and are willing to take action to get it.