Celtic issue statement after AGM descends into chaos as club outlines next steps following early conclusion
Celtic have released an official statement following chaotic scenes that forced the club’s Annual General Meeting to be brought to an abrupt end, insisting that a “small number of individuals” were responsible for derailing proceedings and denying shareholders the chance to take part in the traditional question-and-answer session.
The AGM, held in Glasgow descended into disorder as repeated interruptions and confrontational exchanges erupted between members of the board and sections of the audience. The disruptions eventually led chairman Peter Lawwell to call time on the meeting earlier than scheduled, prompting anger from shareholders who expected a full session to debate key issues at the club.
In their statement, Celtic expressed disappointment at how events unfolded, describing the behaviour of certain attendees as “unacceptable” and directly responsible for forcing the club to abandon the gathering earlier than planned. The club insisted it had taken steps to ensure the AGM remained open and transparent but said this had become impossible due to constant interruptions that made the meeting “untenable”.
A spokesperson said the board had a responsibility to ensure the AGM could be conducted in a “safe and orderly environment”, adding that the actions of a minority had prevented this. “The conduct of a small number of individuals regrettably undermined the ability to continue the business of the meeting,” the statement read. “As a result, the AGM was concluded earlier than planned.”
Despite the premature ending, Celtic confirmed that a poll on all resolutions had been formally called by Lawwell at the close of the disrupted session. The counting and verification of these votes will now be carried out by the club’s independent registrar, Computershare. Results will be published once the process is complete, ensuring that the formal business of the AGM is still fulfilled despite the disruption.
However, one of the major casualties of the chaos was the cancellation of the scheduled Q&A section, which typically offers shareholders the opportunity to directly challenge board members on club policy, football operations, financial matters and future strategy. Many attendees voiced frustration at being denied the chance to speak, with some accusing the board of deliberately shutting down dissent.
Celtic strongly rejected that characterisation, insisting that the Q&A was only scrapped because the minority disruptions made continuation impossible. The club offered an apology to all shareholders who were left disappointed by the abrupt ending to the session.
“We fully appreciate the importance of the Q&A as part of the AGM,” the statement continued. “We apologise to shareholders who were unable to put forward their questions due to the disruptive behaviour experienced during the meeting.”
In an effort to make up for the cancelled segment, the club has invited shareholders to submit their questions directly to Celtic’s investor relations team. The club said they were committed to addressing concerns raised by shareholders and ensuring that their voices were still heard despite the curtailed AGM.
The fallout from the event has already sparked heated debate among supporters. The meeting had been expected to feature robust exchanges on ongoing tensions with the Green Brigade supporter group, board leadership, football operations under Brendan Rodgers, and the club’s broader direction in domestic and European competition. Tensions around these issues appeared to spill over, creating an atmosphere that Celtic officials described as “hostile and counterproductive”.
The scenes have also intensified scrutiny on the relationship between the club’s hierarchy and segments of the fanbase, with some supporters claiming their efforts to express legitimate frustrations were dismissed, while others condemned the behaviour of those who disrupted the meeting, calling it self-defeating and embarrassing.
The statement concludes with Celtic reaffirming their commitment to shareholder engagement and stressing that the early termination of the AGM was a last resort. “Celtic remains committed to constructive dialogue with our investors and supporters,” it said. “We will continue to work hard in the best interests of our club as we move forward.”
The club is expected to release the official voting results in the coming days once all ballots have been processed by Computershare. Meanwhile, shareholders who were denied the chance to participate in the Q&A are being encouraged to contact the club directly as Celtic attempts to repair the fallout from one of the most turbulent AGMs in recent memory.
