Dida Celtic probe: man quizzed by police

Updated 14.36 Thu Oct 04 2007
Keywords: Carlo Ancelotti, Scott McDonald, Steven McManus, Gordon Strachan, Dida, AC Milan, Champions League, football, Celtic, sport

A man has handed himself into police in connection with an incident in which a fan ran on to the pitch and appeared to strike goalkeeper Dida as Celtic beat AC Milan 2-1 at Parkhead in the Champions League.

Milan's Brazilian stopper briefly chased the supppoter, who kept on running after the confrontation, before collapsing to the ground as if he had been pole-axed - he was stretchered off clutching an icepack to his face.

Milan's Brazilian stopper briefly made to chase after the supppoter, who kept on running after the confrontation, before collapsing to the ground as if he had been pole-axed - he was stretchered off clutching an icepack to his face

Strathclyde Police said a man had handed himself into a police station at lunchtime and was being interviewed about the incident.

European football's governing body Uefa, which is to look at referee Marcus Merk's report before making a decision, is also looking into the incident which has been played down by Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti.

Ancelotti said: "I didn't see it at the time, I only seen it on a replay. It had nothing to do with the result. I don't know if we will be appealing to Uefa but I think not. We lost because of a defensive mistake, we did not come out."

Celtic could face sanctions after the supporter ran on to the pitch moments after Scott McDonald fired Gordon Strachan's Bhoys to a shock Group D victory after Kaka's 68th-minute penalty cancelled out Stephen McManus' 62nd-minute opener.

McDonald has urged Uefa to be lenient on the Glasgow giants following their dramatic victory over the champions of Europe.

The Celtic match-winner said: "I hope the authorities are lenient. The big man has been hit by all sorts of things in the past and I don't know how hard he was hit.

"He's been hit by a flare before, so he's been through the works. I didn't see what happened, I was too busy celebrating, but Dida has gone down as if he's been shot.

"It would be a tragedy if what happened affected the team. It's a career highlight for me to get the winning goal against the European champions.

"It's a fantastic feeling and something I'll hold for the rest of my life. I kept my head and put it away. It was instinct - bang, go away and celebrate."

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