Dida gets two-game ban; Celtic fined $57,000

By: Bob | October 11th, 2007

The verdict is in from the great Dida fiasco and for once the UEFA overloads have gotten things right. Celtic have been fined $57,000 for the security breach that allowed one of their fans to run onto the pitch and give the AC Milan keeper a love tap. They will not be docked any points. Meanwhile, Dida has been given a two-game ban for his theatrics.

Both punishments seem just in my opinion. Celtic should not be punished on the field for the actions of one fan, but they should pay a price for allowing a security gaffe that could have ended up much more serious than it did.

Dida also deserves the ban for being a world class bozo. Two games seems to be about the right length for his actions, although some Milan fans might have wanted their blunder-prone keeper out for a longer amount of time. AC Milan officials beg to differ. They intend to appeal the decision.

Your thoughts on the punishments?

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Jan

Good call by the UEFA. As Ian pointed out, maybe they should have handed Celtic a higher fine. Otherwise I agree with it. A two match ban for Dida is enough as well.
jz

Both fines are perfect. Docking Celtic points for the actions of one fan would be ridiculous. The fact that the fan was banned for life should be enough to deter any more crazy Scots from attempting similar actions. Dida getting suspended two games, as well as the public shame of being the world's most notorious flopper, should send a message that theatrical flopping is no longer going to be tolerated. Well, at least I hope they won't.
Ian

Yeah, I think 2 is fair, only because he's basically marked for life as a diver and he'll be taunted wherever he goes for the rest of his career. If Milan had a better backup, or if they were in a better position domestically, they would have suspended him themselves. That's what should have happened, because his actions put such a bad face on AC Milan.
mele419

I didn't say his suspension should be lifted. i said he didn't deserve any more than what he received.
Lucas

@ mele419 - you make a convincing argument. Maybe Dida's suspension should be lifted.... and he should be required to play all future UEFA games wearing a sandwich board that reads, "I am a jackass, HEE-HAW!!!"
mele419

Why don't you all lay off Dida.
He just let in a goal, and then some idiot Celtic fan runs across the pitch and slaps him.
While he did dive, and it was wrong, he doesn't deserve a suspension greater than that, while Celtic on the other hand deserves MUCH more than a slap on the wrist fine. While it may have been a love tap, it could have been something much more serious, and that's uncalled for.
Football doesn't need fans running onto the pitch and attacking players, or love tapping, or stabbing or anything. This is just completely absurd.
James

Dida should be banned 4 games, football doesn't need these ugly things.
Greg

::Quietly adding "dumbassery" to my lexicon::
Shane

I agree with Stephen from Fox Football Fone-in: Banned for the rest of the group stages.
The 2 games is a good start but in comparison to the 2 game diving ban, it should have been more. 4 maybe. and a fine.
J

Dida's only out two games, but he should go down into the history books as one of the most publicly shamed footballers of all time. That is his true punishment.
Ian

I think the fine is a little light, but I can live with it. Letting an obviously drunk fan onto the pitch is a serious thing. This time, he didn't hurt Dida so much as give him an opportunity to hurt himself with his dumbassery, but he could have, and Celtic definitely deserve the fine. As for Dida himself, I think 2 games is fair, but those two games will be the two against Shakhtar, which is rough on Milan. In an ideal world for me, their backup will shine and Milan will turn their back on Dida for good, which I have to think will be good for Milan, Italy, and football.
Lucas

Your thoughts on the punishments?

Absolutely perfect.