Goalkeeper Dida has appeal partially upheld

AFP - 22 October 2007 14:01

AC Milan´s goalkeeper Dida is taken off the pitch after being attacked by a Celtic fan during their UEFA Group D Champions League match in Glasgow, 03 October 2007. Dida has had his appeal for a two-match ban partially upheld by UEFA, European football´s governing body said.

PARIS (AFP) - AC Milan keeper Dida has had his appeal for a two-match ban partially upheld by UEFA, European football's governing body said on Monday.

Dida was suspended for two matches and fined 60,000 Swiss francs on October 11 following incidents in their last Champions League Group D game at Celtic.

UEFA said in a statement on their internet site: "Following Monday's appeals hearing, Dida is suspended for two matches, but one of the matches will now be deferred for a probationary period of one year.

"Dida misses Milan's home UEFA Champions League match against FC Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday." However Dida will be ready for the return game on November 6, which he would have missed had the initial two-match ban been upheld.

Dida was punished for overreacting after being slapped in the face by a Scottish fan near the end of the 2-1 Group D loss to the Scots.

The 34-year-old Brazilian initially started to chase after his assailant before theatrically slumping to the ground and rolling over a couple of times while clutching his face.

During the warm-up to Sunday's Italian league match against Empoli, Dida made apologetic gestures to the San Siro crowd and was applauded in return.

"I think it's fairer now," said AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani. "I was unhappy with the two-match ban, but a single match is okay. Dida made a mistake but his error did not hurt anyone, either at Celtic or any other player.

"His apologies to the supporters were spontaneous," Galliani added. "It was not the club which suggested he did that and I think now Dida and the fans have been reconciled."

Galliani also admitted that AC Milan were in crisis. "To say "chaos" (Italian newspaper headline) is incorrect," added Galliani. "I think crisis is more accurate."

AC Milan fell 1-0 at home to Empoli at the weekend leaving them in just 11th place in the Italian league table.

"It's a very difficult time," continued Galliani. "But we are not going to dramatise it. We will get back on track as we always do. (...) The players are not to blame. They are doing their best just the same as when they are winning but we will need to do what is necessary so this situation changes."