SFA calls for harsh Dida punishment

Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith has urged Uefa to punish AC Milan goalkeeper Dida for his reaction after being confronted by a Celtic fan during the Scottish side's 2-1 Champion's League win over the Italian side.

The goalkeeper initially gave chase after appearing to be struck by the fan celebrating Celtic's late winner, before collapsing to the ground and being carried off on a stretcher clutching an ice-pack to his face.

Smith wants to see similar action taken by the governing body who handed a two-match ban to Lithuania's Saulius Mikoliunas for diving in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland.

Smith told the Daily Record: "I was at the match at Celtic Park but I did not see the fan come on to the pitch. From what I've been told he made what could be described as a friendly pat at the goalkeeper, who then decided to fall over.

"To see him leave the park on a stretcher could have been described as farcical.

"I would hope that Uefa act in accordance with their recent judgment on Mikoliunas. I would certainly hope the incident would have no effect on the outcome of the match."

Smith added: "The fact of the matter is that Celtic will have a case to answer because their security was breached by the supporter who came on the park.

"Therefore there is nothing we can do to help them at this stage.

"What Uefa have to decide is whether Dida was guilty of simulation and whether it was intended to make the problem with the fan look even worse by indicating that he had been assaulted."

Celtic have since banned a fan for life after he turned up at the club voluntarily. A man is due to appear in court today in relation to the incident.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has called on Uefa to be lenient in exacting their punishment. He claimed it would be a "dreadful injustice" if they were to be stripped of points for the Champions League pitch invasion.

Salmond told a Glasgow audience: "I think Celtic's had a good record - I don't think the incident affected the game," he told a Radio Clyde 'Ask Alex' event at Glasgow University last night.

"No doubt there will be some punishment, but I think it would be a dreadful injustice if anything happened in terms of the points when they have just beaten the European champions."