Karamoko Dembele says he was racially abused by Scotland team-mate & treated differently at Celtic because he was black

Former Celtic winger Karamoko Dembele has revealed he was racially abused by a teammate while attending a Scotland youth national team camp. The 23-year-old stated that an older player repeatedly targeted him with racial references and bullying, which left him feeling disgusted and embarrassed to report at the time. In response, the Scottish Football Association stated they are saddened by his experience, have reached out to offer support, and reaffirmed their commitment to equality and anti-discrimination initiatives.

Dembele also discussed his time breaking through at Celtic, questioning whether he was treated differently and targeted in training tackles because he was Black and confident. He made ten first-team appearances under manager Neil Lennon before departing the Scottish Premiership club for Brest, later joining Queens Park Rangers permanently following loan spells.