Soccernet : Celtic chief questions Dida 'antics'
Celtic chairman Brian Quinn has urged UEFA to investigate the 'antics' of AC Milan goalkeeper Dida after the Brazilian appeared to exaggerate an injury following a clash with the fan.
A supporter ran onto the pitch following the Hoops' late winner against the European champions in the Champions League last night and appeared to tap Dida on the shoulder as he ran across the six-yard box.
Dida initially gave chase to the fan before falling to the floor, and was carried off on a stretcher holding an ice pack to his face.
Quinn was quick to condemn the 'disgraceful' behaviour of the fan who had invaded the pitch, but felt Dida was guilty of making the most of 'minimal' contact.
'I'm making no excuses for the behaviour, and the fan behaved disgracefully, but the contact made with the goalkeeper was minimal, absolutely minimal. The antics of the goalkeeper have to be taken into account as well,' Quinn told BBC Radio Five Live.
'All I saw were the TV pictures. He took a couple of steps after the fan and then obviously made this decision that he should go to ground. Unless I missed something he was carried off on a stretcher for what seemed to be the lightest tap you can imagine.'
Quinn confirmed his club would investigate how the fan had been able to run onto the pitch and would seek to take the 'appropriate action' against the individual concerned.
Asked if he had tried to see Dida after the game, Quinn added: 'I didn't, certainly not. It's not my place to go into the opposing dressing room. We spoke to the officials of Milan, they were not ranting and raving, they were being sensible.'
UEFA communications director William Gaillard told Sky Sports News that they expected to receive their match delegate's report by the end of this week.
'One of our prosecutors will look at the document and decide whether to open an investigation,' he said.
'If he opens an investigation it will be a week or two before the disciplinary body deals with the case.
'I don't want to presume anything. There is a whole range of possible punishment but of course there are precedents for the same kind of incidents.'
Two seasons ago, Inter Milan were forced to play four games behind closed doors and were fined after a flare hit Dida during a Champions League quarter-final between the city rivals at the San Siro. The tie was awarded 5-0 to AC Milan.
More recently, Denmark were ordered to play four home Euro 2008 qualifiers at least 250 kilometres away from Copenhagen and fined £41,000 after a fan invaded the pitch and assaulted German referee Herbert Fandel during a match against Sweden in the Danish capital in June. The match was awarded 3-0 to the Swedes, although UEFA did subsequently agree to slightly relax the restrictions on where future games could be played.
