Celtic were crowned Scottish Premiership champions for the fourth consecutive season on Saturday after a commanding 5-0 victory over Dundee United at Tannadice Park — a match temporarily delayed by a protest from the visiting supporters.
The result sees Celtic secure their 55th Scottish top-flight title, drawing level with fierce rivals Rangers at the top of the all-time list, in a season dominated by Brendan Rodgers’ relentless side.
The game was briefly halted around the 12-minute mark when Celtic fans showered the pitch with tangerines and unfurled a banner reading, “£njoy th£ fruits of our labour,” a pointed protest against Dundee United’s ticket pricing for the fixture. Away tickets were priced at £40-£42, prompting anger among supporters. Although home supporters faced similar prices, Dundee United offered a discounted £10 rate for season-ticket holders purchasing an additional ticket — a move which further fueled frustration.
The protest caused a three-minute delay as players from both sides and coaching staff cleared the fruit from the playing surface, with Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers visibly shaking his head on the touchline.
At the time of the disruption, the game remained goalless. However, once play resumed, Celtic took firm control. An own goal from Dundee United’s Ryan Strain broke the deadlock, before Nicolas Kühn added a quick-fire brace to send the Hoops into the break with a comfortable 3-0 advantage. Adam Idah completed the rout in the second half with two well-taken goals, sealing a memorable afternoon for the travelling fans.
Rodgers’ side have been dominant domestically once again, winning 27 of their 34 league games so far and racking up an impressive 102 goals. Rodgers had previously spoken of his ambition to surpass the club’s record 106-goal tally achieved during their unbeaten 2016-17 campaign — a target still within reach with games remaining.
Saturday’s triumph also cements Celtic’s dominance over Scottish football in the modern era, marking the 13th time in 14 seasons they have lifted the league trophy. The only interruption came during the 2020-21 season when Rangers, under Steven Gerrard, halted their run.
Despite losing twice to Rangers during this league campaign, Celtic managed a crucial 3-0 victory over their Glasgow rivals at Celtic Park in September and later defeated them on penalties to win the Scottish League Cup at Hampden Park in December.
The opportunity for further silverware beckons. Celtic will face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final on May 24, aiming to complete a domestic treble and further underline their domestic supremacy.
It has also been a landmark European campaign for Celtic, who reached the Champions League knockout stages for the first time since 2013, only narrowly bowing out to Bayern Munich over two hard-fought legs.
Speaking after the match, Rodgers praised his players and the supporters for their consistency throughout a challenging season.
“It’s a tremendous achievement for everyone at the club. To win the title, especially with the challenges and competition we faced, is something very special. Now we focus on finishing strongly and trying to secure the treble,” Rodgers said.
For Celtic, Saturday was about more than just another title — it was a demonstration of their enduring power in Scottish football and a statement that the battle for domestic supremacy with Rangers is very much alive.
