Cliff Notes – Dundee vs Celtic halted after fans throw balls onto pitch
- Celtic’s match against Dundee was paused for approximately three minutes due to an organised protest by away fans, who threw balls onto the pitch.
- The protest was aimed at the club’s hierarchy, with fans chanting “sack the board” and displaying banners during the interruption.
- The defeat marked Celtic’s first away loss at Dundee since 1988, leaving them five points behind league leaders Hearts.
Dundee vs. Celtic halted after fans throw balls onto pitch
Celtic’s match against Dundee was paused for around three minutes. Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images
Celtic’s Scottish Premiership match defeat against Dundee at Dens Park was interrupted on Sunday when balls were thrown onto the pitch by the away fans in an organised protest against the club’s hierarchy.
Supporters began throwing an assortment of balls onto the playing surface as the game kicked off, prompting the referee to halt the match.
Players and staff immediately set to task picking up the balls and removing them from the pitch while the away end chanted “sack the board.”
Several banners were also displayed by the Celtic fans and play was stopped for around three minutes.
The start of the game at Dens Park is interrupted due to Celtic fans protesting against the club’s board ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/2qzYWxPUt1
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) October 19, 2025
The loss — Celtic’s first away at Dundee since 1988 — meant they failed to cut the gap on leaders Hearts.
Clark Robertson headed the hosts ahead from a corner in the 17th minute before Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers scored an own goal just before the break.
– Celtic fans call off Braga protest as board invites talks
– Scottish Premiership table
The visitors dominated the second half but lost 2-0, their first Premiership defeat of the season and first at Dens Park since Tommy Coyne scored the only goal of the game for the Dark Blues 37 years ago.
The Hoops, booed at the end, remain five points behind Hearts, whom they play at Tynecastle next weekend. Before then they have a Europa League tie against Sturm Graz on Thursday, with improvement required.
Information from PA contributed to this story.
