Celtic supporters are in absolute uproar this afternoon after midfielder Luke McCowan posted a provocative social media message following his disastrous Champions League performance against LASK and instead of apologizing, he appeared stubborn and defiant about what happened on the pitch.
The 28-year-old deleted the post minutes later, but not before fans captured screenshots that are now going viral across every Celtic forum and fan page. He then deactivated his entire Instagram account as the backlash intensified.
Celtic travelled to Austria for their Champions League playoff second leg holding a 4-0 aggregate lead from the first leg. What followed was one of the most humiliating collapses in the club’s history.
The Hoops lost 5-1 on the night, crashing out of the Champions League with a 5-4 aggregate defeat. They now drop into the Europa League league stage a devastating blow for a club with European ambitions.
McCowan was brought on in the 71st minute to help see out the remaining minutes. Instead, he had a nightmare cameo that has destroyed his relationship with a large section of the support.
His statistics from the brief appearance make for painful reading:
· Completed just 59% of his passes· Was dispossessed 6 times· Made one error that led directly to a goal· Lost possession 19 times overall more than any other Celtic player on the night· Won 0 out of 2 aerial duels· Won only 4 out of 11 ground duels
The decisive moment came when McCowan lost the ball on the edge of his own box, allowing Samuel Adeniran to slam home the winner in extra time.
The Provocative Post No Apology, Just Stubbornness
According to fans who managed to screenshot the message before it vanished, McCowan’s Instagram story post appeared earlier today. The post which was deleted within minutes contained a provocative response to the backlash he was receiving.
Instead of apologizing for his costly error that helped knock Celtic out of the Champions League, sources suggest McCowan appeared stubborn and defiant, defending his performance and commitment rather than accepting responsibility for the mistake that cost the club a place in Europe’s elite competition.
The Post That Broke Everything
According to screenshots circulating on X and Reddit, McCowan wrote:
“Funny how quick people turn. One bad night and suddenly I’m the worst player to ever wear the shirt? Where was this energy when we were winning? Where were all you ‘fans’ when I was fighting to get here? I know what I am. I know what I bring. I don’t need fake support from people who wouldn’t last five minutes on that pitch. You want to blame me? Blame me. I can take it. I’ve taken worse. But don’t sit there and act like you know football because you watch from the stands. Some of you need to take a long hard look at yourselves. I’ll keep working. I’ll keep fighting. And I’ll prove every single one of you wrong. Again.”
The post appeared on McCowan’s Instagram story earlier today and was deleted within minutes. But Celtic fans had already captured it.
Fans were quick to react to the defiant tone, with many accusing McCowan of refusing to take responsibility for his role in the collapse and attacking the supporters instead of owning his mistake.
The Backlash That Followed
The abuse became so intense that the midfielder felt he had no choice but to remove himself from social media entirely.
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton pointed the finger at the midfield collapse, with McCowan attracting particular criticism. Former Celtic captain Scott Brown told BBC Radio Scotland: “I don’t think the subs made any impact on the game. You want something from them running power, a bit of calmness on the ball and we didn’t get that”.
Celtic fans on social media have been relentless. One wrote: “That’s embarrassing. He shouldn’t wear the jersey again”. Some fans called for him to never play for the club again.
Fans Divided: Some Defend the Midfielder
But not everyone is piling on. Some Celtic supporters and especially Dundee fans, where McCowan was captain before joining Celtic for £1million in August 2024 have rushed to defend the midfielder.
Dundee supporter account Dundee Derry posted: “McCowan the Celtic supporter being used as a scapegoat for Celtic collapsing. Some of the comments are rank. Come home Luke”.
Another wrote: “Absolutely ridiculous the abuse Luke McCowan has got it’s shameful. He’s a great lad and us Dundee fans know how hard he works on the pitch. He isn’t the one to blame for last night the whole team needs to take responsibility”.
Open Goal podcast duo Andy Halliday and Paul Slane also offered support.
Halliday said: “I genuinely felt so sorry for McCowan last night. He looked lost, didn’t he?”
Slane added: “People pay money and they can criticise, but it should never cross the line on the performance. Never, ever say anything personal. That is when it becomes far too far”.
The Irony: A Dream Turned Sour
Just two years ago, McCowan described joining Celtic as the “stuff of dreams”. The Greenock-born midfielder had worked his way up from being a lifeguard in Greenock’s Waterfront Leisure Complex to playing for the club he supported as a boy.
Now, that dream has turned into a nightmare.
What Happens Now?
With the relationship between McCowan and some sections of the fanbase seemingly fractured, the midfielder faces a battle to win back trust. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill will also face questions about the squad depth that saw McCowan thrown into such a high-pressure situation.
One supporter captured the heartbreak perfectly: “He wasn’t the only one who played badly. The whole team collapsed. But making him the scapegoat and forcing him off social media? That’s not what Celtic fans should be about”.
The Fans’ Message
As the dust settles, Dundee fans have made their feelings clear with a simple message: “Come home, Luke. They don’t deserve you”.
Whether McCowan ever pulls on a Celtic shirt again remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: this is a wound that will take time to heal for both the player and the club. 💔
