UEFA's Control and Disciplinary Body will review the actions of both Dida and Milan at a hearing on Thursday and although Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani anticipates the club will avoid sanction by European football's governing body, Cantamessa fears Dida may incur a personal punishment for his antics.

Cantamessa said: "I believe this inquiry is a formality and I don't expect a punishment for Milan, perhaps a light punishment for Dida.

"You must not forget the emotional situation for the player as he had just conceded a goal and he saw an unknown person come towards him.

"Let's not forget what happened to Dida in the Milan derby when he was hit by a firework."

The incident came in the aftermath of Scott McDonald's last-minute winner for the Scottish side in the Champions League clash in Glasgow last Wednesday.

The fan, 27-year-old Robert McHendry, made contact with Dida, who briefly gave chase before theatrically collapsing to the ground.

After treatment, the Brazilian was carried off on a stretcher with an ice pack on his face.

Cantamessa also defended the actions of Milan's medical staff, who opted to use a stretcher to remove the goalkeeper from the field.

"The player had a headache," Cantamessa continued.

"What could the doctor have done if he didn't see what actually happened? Any doctor would have asked for the player to be stretchered off.

"At that time with those symptoms you don't know what could have happened to Dida."

Meanwhile, Galliani has reiterated his desire for Dida to remain at the club as their first-choice custodian, saying: "Nelson Dida will remain the AC Milan goalkeeper."

Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has also waded into the controversy, pleading that Dida should not be heavily punished for his antics.

"Perhaps he was confused and he did something which one minute later he regretted - do not crucify him for it," he said.