Quinn asks UEFA to probe Dida 'antics'

Published on Thursday 4 October 2007 12:01

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 a Parkhead 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.

Hoops captain Stephen McManus had given the home side the lead in the 62nd minute but six minutes later referee Marcus Merk adjudged Lee Naylor to have grappled too enthusiastically with Milan skipper Massimo Ambrosini inside the penalty area and Kaka stroked home the spot-kick. McDonald's late goal sealed Celtic's first victory of this campaign and set them up for their next match against Benfica in Lisbon.

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 said.

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."

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti played down the incident, saying: "I didn't see it at the time, I have only seen it on a replay. It had nothing to do with the result. I don't know if we will be appealing to UEFA but I think not."

UEFA communications director William Gaillard said the governing body expected to receive its match delegate's report by the end of this week.

"I don't want to presume anything," he said. "There is a whole range of possible punishment but of course there are precedents for the same kind of incidents."

In 1984, Celtic were ordered by UEFA to re-stage the second leg of a European Cup Winners' Cup tie against Rapid Vienna at least 100 miles from Parkhead after a bottle had been launched at Rudolf Weinhofer who fell to the ground despite the missile landing several feet away. The Hoops lost the replayed game at Old Trafford 1-0. Attacks on Austrian players at that game led to Celtic having to play European games behind closed doors.

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.