BBC Radio Scotland’s Richard Gordon has described the scenes of genuine fury that unfolded among Celtic supporters following the Hoops’ defeat to Dundee United at Tannadice.
The loss was the product of a deeply poor performance, one that appeared to lack the heart and desire expected from a side still involved in a title race. Martin O’Neill was asked about the reaction of the travelling support after the final whistle and suggested supporter anger after a defeat is nothing new, but Gordon’s account on BBC Radio Scotland painted a considerably more alarming picture.
Gordon described a large number of Celtic fans who had stayed behind gathering in the stand directly above the tunnel, directing sustained and aggressive abuse at the players as they made their way off the pitch. A separate group had moved to a far corner of the ground and were venting their frustration specifically at the Celtic board of directors, with a line of police officers and stewards holding them back. Gordon said the directors left the stand with some embarrassment, making their way out through the exit as the anger continued around them. Sky Sports cameras captured the same scenes, ensuring the footage reached a wider audience.
This is not simply the frustration of a single bad result. The anger has been building throughout a season defined by questionable recruitment, a lack of meaningful investment in the playing squad, and the disastrous short-lived appointment of Wilfried Nancy. The travelling support has been pushed to breaking point, and Sunday’s performance provided the spark that released it.
What will grate most with supporters is that through everything that has unfolded this season, not one person in a position of authority at the club has faced any meaningful consequences.