Chris Sutton Offers to Mediate as Celtic Tensions Boil Over

Former Chris Sutton has stepped into the escalating situation at Celtic FC, offering to mediate between the club’s board and supporter groups following recent unrest.

With protests disrupting the European clash against VfB Stuttgart, Sutton did not hold back in his assessment of the situation.

“Bring me in, and I’ll mediate between the two. Maybe I can bang a few skulls together for the greater good.”

The outspoken former striker believes the standoff cannot continue, warning that “something has to give” after scenes that saw tennis balls thrown onto the pitch, halting the match and affecting the atmosphere inside the stadium.

A Divided Club

Sutton acknowledged he has been critical of Celtic’s decision-makers since before the season began, claiming the warning signs were visible months ago.

He also defended supporters’ right to feel angry, pointing to what he described as a “massive regression” over the past 12 months.

“The supporters have every right to be angry given the massive regression over the past 12 months.”

However, he urged fans to temporarily “park it” as the club enters a crucial stage of the campaign.

Backing O’Neill Amid the Chaos

While critical of the board and sympathetic to supporters, Sutton made it clear he understands the frustration of manager Martin O’Neill.

He suggested the five-minute delay caused by the protest before kick-off against Stuttgart drained the energy from the ground and would have impacted the players.

“He will have tried to motivate the team to get off to a solid start… but then the players had to hang around for five minutes while the balls were removed from the pitch.

It took the atmosphere out of the ground and it would have been totally deflating for those out there.”

Sutton stressed that it was no excuse for what followed on the pitch — but insisted it certainly did not help.

Something Has to Give

The former striker’s comments underline just how serious the disconnect has become between Celtic’s leadership and sections of the support.

With tensions high, performances under scrutiny, and the season entering a defining phase, Sutton’s offer — half serious, half symbolic — highlights the urgent need for resolution.

Because as things stand, unrest in the stands risks spilling further onto the pitch.