CELTIC were relieved to only be fined but AC Milan were reeling after UEFA banned goalkeeper Dida for two matches for his theatrics in last week's controversial Champions League match.
Celtic have been fined $62,500, half of which is suspended, for their part in the incident which saw a pitch-invading supporter approach the Brazilian goalkeeper after Scott McDonald scored the late winning goal.
UEFA's control and disciplinary body found Celtic guilty of charges of "lack of organisation" and "improper conduct of supporters".
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was pleased with the outcome.
He told the club's official website: "As a club we feel this penalty is proportionate to the incident in question and a fair outcome."
Dida was found to have breached UEFA's "principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship".
And the 34-year-old, who writhed around in feigned agony in the goalmouth when he was barely tapped by the Celtic supporter, received no sympathy from the 10-man disciplinary body.
Stunned Milan have pledged to appeal against the punishment, which as it stands means Dida will miss the club's Champions League games against Shakhtar Donetsk.
AC Milan lawyer Leandro Cantamessa blasted the decision to hit Dida with such a strong punishment, while only fining Celtic a small sum for the pitch invasion by the supporter.
Cantamessa told www.acmilan.com: "The impact of the sentence is disproportionate and illogical.
"Anyone can see that the pitch invasion had an impact and having to put up with it (the invasion) another.
"One has been punished with a financial penalty and the other with a two-game ban.
"I think the difference is clear to all except those who took the decision.
"I have no issue with Celtic but I am only trying to establish a sense of proportion - one is the event, the other is only the effect of the event.
"In this decision logic and balance are lacking. There is the technical (possibility) of a second level of justice - we can get witnesses, develop arguments. We will see."
Celtic acted swiftly to punish the 27-year-old supporter, who turned himself in to police and has since admitted a breach of the peace in court and will be sentenced next month.
Celtic banned the fan for life from the club's matches, home and away, but UEFA's guilty verdict will nevertheless be taken on board.
The Parkhead club's statement continued: "Celtic Football Club took this matter extremely seriously and following an immediate internal investigation took swift and firm action against the offender in question.
"Celtic Football Club will continue to take all organisational, security and health and safety matters as its first priority.
"We have one of the best health and safety records in Europe and we will continue to work to ensure that Celtic Park remains one of the finest Champions League venues in the game."
President of the Affiliation of Celtic Supporters Clubs, Peter Rafferty, welcomed UEFA's decision.
Rafferty told PA Sport: "I am delighted. As far as Celtic football club and the fans are concerned it's a fantastic decision.
"There are always some rumours when these committees get together and one strong one was that the fine could be heavy and another was there could be the closure of the ground.
"That would have been a disaster for the club and the fans.
"But the decision was as good as we could have expected.
"As far as Dida is concerned, UEFA must see that as justice being done and that is a problem for AC Milan.
"I'm just delighted with the decision on Celtic."
Celtic legend Frank McGarvey was pleased that his former club were treated leniently.
In 1984, McGarvey was in the Celtic side who were ordered by UEFA to re-stage the second leg of a European Cup Winners' Cup tie against Rapid Vienna at least 100 miles from Parkhead after a bottle had been launched at Rudolf Weinhofer, who fell to the ground despite the missile landing several feet away.
He told PA Sport: "UEFA have got it spot-on with a small fine and I thought that would happen.
"I'm delighted for Celtic and it was the conduct of Celtic fans over the years which has led to the leniency of the fine.
"UEFA have also sent out a message to the cheats at last and that message is that cheats can't win.
"Everybody is laughing at the 'keeper. The fan shouldn't have gone on the park but he didn't do anything."
UEFA's control and disciplinary body found Celtic guilty of charges of "lack of organisation" and "improper conduct of supporters".
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell was pleased with the outcome.
He told the club's official website: "As a club we feel this penalty is proportionate to the incident in question and a fair outcome."
Dida was found to have breached UEFA's "principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship".
And the 34-year-old, who writhed around in feigned agony in the goalmouth when he was barely tapped by the Celtic supporter, received no sympathy from the 10-man disciplinary body.
Stunned Milan have pledged to appeal against the punishment, which as it stands means Dida will miss the club's Champions League games against Shakhtar Donetsk.
AC Milan lawyer Leandro Cantamessa blasted the decision to hit Dida with such a strong punishment, while only fining Celtic a small sum for the pitch invasion by the supporter.
Cantamessa told www.acmilan.com: "The impact of the sentence is disproportionate and illogical.
"Anyone can see that the pitch invasion had an impact and having to put up with it (the invasion) another.
"One has been punished with a financial penalty and the other with a two-game ban.
"I think the difference is clear to all except those who took the decision.
"I have no issue with Celtic but I am only trying to establish a sense of proportion - one is the event, the other is only the effect of the event.
"In this decision logic and balance are lacking. There is the technical (possibility) of a second level of justice - we can get witnesses, develop arguments. We will see."
Celtic acted swiftly to punish the 27-year-old supporter, who turned himself in to police and has since admitted a breach of the peace in court and will be sentenced next month.
Celtic banned the fan for life from the club's matches, home and away, but UEFA's guilty verdict will nevertheless be taken on board.
The Parkhead club's statement continued: "Celtic Football Club took this matter extremely seriously and following an immediate internal investigation took swift and firm action against the offender in question.
"Celtic Football Club will continue to take all organisational, security and health and safety matters as its first priority.
"We have one of the best health and safety records in Europe and we will continue to work to ensure that Celtic Park remains one of the finest Champions League venues in the game."
President of the Affiliation of Celtic Supporters Clubs, Peter Rafferty, welcomed UEFA's decision.
Rafferty told PA Sport: "I am delighted. As far as Celtic football club and the fans are concerned it's a fantastic decision.
"There are always some rumours when these committees get together and one strong one was that the fine could be heavy and another was there could be the closure of the ground.
"That would have been a disaster for the club and the fans.
"But the decision was as good as we could have expected.
"As far as Dida is concerned, UEFA must see that as justice being done and that is a problem for AC Milan.
"I'm just delighted with the decision on Celtic."
Celtic legend Frank McGarvey was pleased that his former club were treated leniently.
In 1984, McGarvey was in the Celtic side who were ordered by UEFA to re-stage the second leg of a European Cup Winners' Cup tie against Rapid Vienna at least 100 miles from Parkhead after a bottle had been launched at Rudolf Weinhofer, who fell to the ground despite the missile landing several feet away.
He told PA Sport: "UEFA have got it spot-on with a small fine and I thought that would happen.
"I'm delighted for Celtic and it was the conduct of Celtic fans over the years which has led to the leniency of the fine.
"UEFA have also sent out a message to the cheats at last and that message is that cheats can't win.
"Everybody is laughing at the 'keeper. The fan shouldn't have gone on the park but he didn't do anything."
Copyright (c) Press Association
Related Articles
Meet the last Aussie standing at Celtic
It's a Kewell-Hutchinson double act at post-Muscat Marinos
