AC Milan goalkeeper Dida's two-match Champions League ban for
feigning injury during a game against Celtic has been reduced to
one game, UEFA said on its website.
AC Milan's goalie Dida
celebrates at the end of their Champions League semi-final second
leg soccer match against Manchester United at the San Siro stadium
in Milan May 2, 2007.
The Brazilian will miss Wednesday's home game with Shakhtar
Donetsk, with the second match suspended for a one-year
probationary period, UEFA said.
Dida fell dramatically to the ground after chasing a Celtic fan,
who had run on to the pitch to celebrate his team's late winner in
a 2-1 victory on Oct. 3 and appeared to make light contact as he
slapped the Brazilian round the neck.
UEFA's disciplinary committee banned Dida for two games and
fined Celtic 60,000 Swiss francs, half of which will be suspended
for two years, for failing to keep the fan off the pitch.
AC Milan immediately indicated they would appeal, saying the ban
was excessive and the real villain was the fan.
UEFA's appeals commission decided on Monday to halve Dida's
suspension based on a paragraph in the regulations of European
soccer's governing body stating "players, officials and members
shall conduct themselves according to the principles of loyalty,
integrity and sportsmanship".
The Celtic supporter, who identified himself to police the day
after the match, was given a lifetime ban by the Scottish
champions.
(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2007)
