Dida handed two-match ban by UEFA over Celtic fan clash

Celtic have been fined £25,000 by UEFA and AC Milan's Dida has been banned for two matches after the incident which saw a pitch-invading supporter approach the Brazilian goalkeeper in last week's Champions League match at Parkhead.

Dida's theatrical reaction to being tapped by the Celtic supporter after Scott McDonald scored the late winning goal has cost him severely.

However Celtic may not choose to complain about their own punishment, with half of their fine suspended for two years.

UEFA did have the power to change the result of the October 3 match, which Celtic won 2-1, although that was always unlikely.

UEFA's control and disciplinary body found Celtic guilty of charges of "lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters".

Dida was found to have breached UEFA's "principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship".

Milan have pledged to appeal against the punishment, which as it stands means he will miss the club's Champions League games against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Celtic acted swiftly to punish the 27-year-old supporter, who turned himself in and has since admitted a breach of the peace in court and will be sentenced next month.

The club banned the fan for life from the club's matches, home and away.

Milan themselves were also hit with a UEFA charge on Monday, however they have avoided punishment as a club.

President of the Affiliation of Celtic Supporters Clubs, Peter Rafferty, welcomed UEFA's decision regarding the Scottish champions.

Rafferty told PA Sport: "I am delighted. As far as Celtic football club and the fans are concerned it's a fantastic decision.

"There are always some rumours when these committees get together and one strong one was that the fine could be heavy and another was there could be the closure of the ground.

"That would have been a disaster for the club and the fans.

"But the decision was as good as we could have expected.

"As far as Dida is concerned, UEFA must see that as justice being done and that is a problem for AC Milan.

"I'm just delighted with the decision on Celtic."

Celtic legend Frank McGarvey was pleased that his former club were treated leniently.

In 1984, McGarvey was in the Celtic side who 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.

He told PA Sport: "UEFA have got it spot-on with a small fine and I thought that would happen.

"I'm delighted for Celtic and it was the conduct of Celtic fans over the years which has led to the leniency of the fine.

"UEFA have also sent out a message to the cheats at last and that message is that cheats can't win.

"Everybody is laughing at the 'keeper. The fan shouldn't have gone on the park but he didn't do anything."

In a statement, Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell praised UEFA's verdict.

He said: "As a club we feel this penalty is proportionate to the incident in question and a fair outcome.

"Celtic Football Club took this matter extremely seriously and following an immediate internal investigation took swift and firm action against the offender in question.

"Celtic Football Club will continue to take all organisational, security and health and safety matters as its first priority.

"We have one of the best health and safety records in Europe and we will continue to work to ensure that Celtic Park remains one of the finest Champions League venues in the game."