O'Neill condemns Desmond protest as Green Brigade announces Celtic boycott

Martin O'Neill has condemned the protest directed at Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond as the Green Brigade announced plans to boycott Scottish Cup matches and home European fixtures. BBC Sport reported on Friday that the manager opposed the demonstration at St Andrews and regretted the renewed division between supporters and the club's leadership.

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The Green Brigade denied that its members participated in the golf-course protest, while expressing support for those responsible, according to the BBC. The group accused the club of hostility towards supporters. Celtic has said it will no longer recognise the Celtic Fans Collective, a coalition that includes the Green Brigade, as a representative body.

The dispute follows an incident on October 3 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. RTE reported that Desmond was taking part in the pro-am competition when protesters disrupted play at the 15th green. Tennis balls displaying crossed-out images of his face were thrown onto the putting surface, and security subsequently escorted him away from the course. The incident took place at St Andrews.

In its account of the incident, RTE said the Celtic Fans Collective later published footage and photographs of the demonstration on social media. Its accompanying statement demanded changes at the top of the club and challenged Desmond's accountability to supporters. The statement presented the action as a challenge to the existing leadership arrangements, rather than a complaint about the golf event itself.

The unrest comes despite Celtic's recent domestic success. RTE reported that O'Neill's team won last season's Premiership title after a final-day contest with Hearts, completing a domestic double. Its October 3 report also noted that Celtic led Rangers by two points, but had lost their last three matches before the international break, including two defeats against Rangers.

Celtic has threatened indefinite bans for anyone established to have organised, enabled or joined the protest, BBC Sport reported. O'Neill recalled the unity surrounding the team late last season and contrasted it with the latest tensions. He also criticised the use of face coverings at St Andrews.