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Celtic fans throw tennis balls at Dermot Desmond during Alfred Dunhill Links pro-am

Celtic's largest shareholder Dermot Desmond was targeted by a fan protest at the Alfred Dunhill Links pro-am in St Andrews, with tennis balls thrown towards him and security escorting him off the course.

2 outlets · 0L · 1C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: BBC News
Image: Irish Independent

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Tennis balls were thrown towards Celtic's largest shareholder, Dermot Desmond, during the Alfred Dunhill Links golf pro-am at St Andrews on Saturday 3 October in a protest by Celtic fans. Mixed · 2The balls, which carried pictures of the 76-year-old's face scored out, landed on the green of the 15th hole, and Desmond was escorted off the course by security. Right · 1The Irish Independent's headline places the incident as he left the 18th green, while its text and the BBC both say the 15th hole.

Mixed · 2The Celtic Fans Collective released a statement with footage and images; the Irish Independent says it was posted on X and called for change at the top of the club. Centre · 1The statement said Desmond "has essentially been allowed to run Celtic Football Club whilst using his wealth to hide from supporters and accountability" and that fans wanted to send a message that "this arrangement cannot continue". Centre · 1Desmond has been criticised in recent seasons over the club's lack of progress in Europe and underwhelming transfer business, according to the BBC.

Centre · 1The BBC recalls that after Brendan Rodgers resigned at the start of last season Desmond blamed him for much of the early problems, and that the club's annual general meeting last November was abandoned because of fan unrest. Centre · 1At that meeting his son Ross read a statement saying the board would not be "bullied by aggressive and irrational" criticism, and Desmond called those involved in an incident that led to the Green Brigade ultras being banned "bullies". Right · 1On the pitch, the Irish Independent says Martin O'Neill's Celtic, last season's Premiership and domestic double winners, top the table two points ahead of Rangers, but lost their last three games before the international break, including two to Rangers, and lost 3-1 at home to Ferencvaros in the Europa League.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left0 outlets

No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Reports the protest and puts it in the context of Desmond's record and past clashes with fans.
Emphasis
Fans' statement, Rodgers' resignation, the abandoned AGM, Desmond's 'bullies' remark.
Leaves out or plays down
Current league form and results.
For example
“Then at Celtic's annual general meeting last November, which had to be abandoned due to fan unrest” — BBC News

Right1 outlet

Framing
Short report on the protest, focusing on the security escort and linking it to Celtic's recent results.
Emphasis
The security guard, current league position and recent defeats.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not quote the fans' statement or recount the AGM and Green Brigade dispute.
For example
“Celtic, though, lost the last three games before the international break” — Irish Independent