Karamoko Dembélé says he was ‘targeted’ by Scottish players at Celtic

Former Celtic winger Karamoko Dembélé revealed in an interview with The Athletic that he felt targeted by Scottish teammates while rising through the ranks at Parkhead. The current Queens Park Rangers player stated that certain players left extra force in tackles and perceived his confidence as arrogance. He also revealed suffering racial bullying within the Scotland youth ranks, leading to an official apology and offer of support from the Scottish FA.

Dembélé noted that foreign players treated him normally, whereas Scottish teammates scrutinized his attitude. After making eight senior appearances for Celtic, he moved to Brest and Blackpool before joining QPR permanently in 2025. He has since made 28 league appearances for the English club and is nearing a return from injury.