Dermot Desmond, the 76-year-old Irish billionaire and majority shareholder of Celtic Football Club, was confronted by protesting fans while playing golf at St Andrews in Scotland. The incident occurred on the 15th hole during a round with five-time major champion Brooks Koepka ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Pro-Am.

Protesters threw tennis balls bearing images of Desmond’s face at him, prompting security personnel to escort him away after he finished the round. Desmond’s son, Ross Desmond, was scheduled to compete in the tournament.

The group known as the Celtic Fans Collective claimed responsibility for the demonstration. In a statement, the collective accused Desmond of managing the club without sufficient accountability to supporters and criticized his use of personal wealth to avoid scrutiny. The group said the protest was intended to signal that the current situation was unsustainable.

Desmond has held a significant role at Celtic since 1995 and remains the club’s largest shareholder. The protest reflects ongoing tensions between parts of the Celtic fanbase and the club’s ownership group regarding governance and transparency. No injuries or further disruptions were reported during the golf event.