UEFA are set to launch disciplinary proceedings against Celtic after a fan clashed with AC Milan goalkeeper Dida but the club are likely to escape with a fine.
To relive Scott McDonald's glory night...
A Celtic supporter ran onto the pitch after their late winner in the 2-1 victory over Milan and appeared to tap Dida on the shoulder.
Dida looked as though he exaggerated the incident, initially giving chase to the fan before falling to the floor, and then being carried off on a stretcher holding an ice pack to his face.
Sources close to European football's governing body say there is no likelihood of the result of the match - which Celtic won 2-1 - being changed as a punishment.
Dida's antics will also be taken into account by UEFA's control and disciplinary body although it is very unlikely any action will be taken against him personally.
That, and the fact that Celtic have a good record in Europe in terms of crowd control, should help the club avoid any stringent punishment such as being ordered to play a game behind closed doors.
UEFA's communications director William Gaillard said a decision would be taken once the report had between received from referee Markus Merk.
Gaillard told PA Sport: "There will certainly be an investigation into the pitch invasion because the onus is on the club to control supporters inside their ground.
"On safety grounds, we are in favour of stadiums without fences but we realise that means there is always a risk of some idiotic person running on to the pitch."
Two seasons ago, Inter Milan were forced to play four games behind closed doors and were fined after a flare hit Dida during a Champions League quarter-final between the city rivals at the San Siro. The tie was awarded 5-0 to AC Milan, but it was the latest in a long line of crowd problems involving Inter.
More recently, Denmark were ordered to play four home Euro 2008 qualifiers at least 250 kilometres away from Copenhagen and fined £41,000 after a fan invaded the pitch and assaulted German referee Herbert Fandel during a match against Sweden in the Danish capital in June. The match was awarded 3-0 to the Swedes.
Meanwhile, Celtic chairman Brian Quinn has condemned the behaviour of the fan as "disgraceful" but felt Dida was guilty of making the most of "minimal" contact.
Quinn told BBC Radio Five Live: "I'm making no excuses for the behaviour, and the fan behaved disgracefully, but the contact made with the goalkeeper was minimal, absolutely minimal. The antics of the goalkeeper have to be taken into account as well.
"All I saw were the TV pictures. He took a couple of steps after the fan and then obviously made this decision that he should go to ground. Unless I missed something he was carried off on a stretcher for what seemed to be the lightest tap you can imagine."
Quinn confirmed his club would investigate how the fan had been able to run onto the pitch and would seek to take the "appropriate action" against the individual concerned.
Asked if he had tried to see Dida after the game, Quinn added: "I didn't, certainly not. It's not my place to go into the opposing dressing room. We spoke to the officials of Milan, they were not ranting and raving, they were being sensible."
A man handed himself in to police today in connection with the confrontation
Police were trying to trace a supporter who rushed from the stand seconds after a last-minute winner by Celtic against the European champions.
Strathclyde Police said a man had handed himself into a police station at lunchtime and was being interviewed about the incident.
Celtic said the individual who invaded the pitch had made himself known to the club and has been banned for life from the Hoops' home and away games.
A 27-year-old man approached the club and was interviewed by staff before going to the police station.
Chief executive Peter Lawwell told the club's website, celticfc.net: "Clearly, Celtic take this issue extremely seriously and it is satisfying that this individual has been identified so swiftly.
"The individual in question has now been banned for life from attending Celtic matches, both home and away."
The incident happened as fans and players celebrated Scott McDonald's last-minute winning goal.
A fan ran across the Parkhead pitch into the path of Milan goalkeeper Nelson Dida.
As he crossed the goalmouth, the supporter stuck out his arm and there appeared to be slight contact with the player.
The Brazilian goalkeeper briefly chased after the man but then collapsed theatrically to the ground.
After a delay, he was taken off on a stretcher with an icepack held to his face.
To relive Scott McDonald's glory night...
A Celtic supporter ran onto the pitch after their late winner in the 2-1 victory over Milan and appeared to tap Dida on the shoulder.
Dida looked as though he exaggerated the incident, initially giving chase to the fan before falling to the floor, and then being carried off on a stretcher holding an ice pack to his face.
Sources close to European football's governing body say there is no likelihood of the result of the match - which Celtic won 2-1 - being changed as a punishment.
Dida's antics will also be taken into account by UEFA's control and disciplinary body although it is very unlikely any action will be taken against him personally.
That, and the fact that Celtic have a good record in Europe in terms of crowd control, should help the club avoid any stringent punishment such as being ordered to play a game behind closed doors.
UEFA's communications director William Gaillard said a decision would be taken once the report had between received from referee Markus Merk.
Gaillard told PA Sport: "There will certainly be an investigation into the pitch invasion because the onus is on the club to control supporters inside their ground.
"On safety grounds, we are in favour of stadiums without fences but we realise that means there is always a risk of some idiotic person running on to the pitch."
Two seasons ago, Inter Milan were forced to play four games behind closed doors and were fined after a flare hit Dida during a Champions League quarter-final between the city rivals at the San Siro. The tie was awarded 5-0 to AC Milan, but it was the latest in a long line of crowd problems involving Inter.
More recently, Denmark were ordered to play four home Euro 2008 qualifiers at least 250 kilometres away from Copenhagen and fined £41,000 after a fan invaded the pitch and assaulted German referee Herbert Fandel during a match against Sweden in the Danish capital in June. The match was awarded 3-0 to the Swedes.
Meanwhile, Celtic chairman Brian Quinn has condemned the behaviour of the fan as "disgraceful" but felt Dida was guilty of making the most of "minimal" contact.
Quinn told BBC Radio Five Live: "I'm making no excuses for the behaviour, and the fan behaved disgracefully, but the contact made with the goalkeeper was minimal, absolutely minimal. The antics of the goalkeeper have to be taken into account as well.
"All I saw were the TV pictures. He took a couple of steps after the fan and then obviously made this decision that he should go to ground. Unless I missed something he was carried off on a stretcher for what seemed to be the lightest tap you can imagine."
Quinn confirmed his club would investigate how the fan had been able to run onto the pitch and would seek to take the "appropriate action" against the individual concerned.
Asked if he had tried to see Dida after the game, Quinn added: "I didn't, certainly not. It's not my place to go into the opposing dressing room. We spoke to the officials of Milan, they were not ranting and raving, they were being sensible."
A man handed himself in to police today in connection with the confrontation
Police were trying to trace a supporter who rushed from the stand seconds after a last-minute winner by Celtic against the European champions.
Strathclyde Police said a man had handed himself into a police station at lunchtime and was being interviewed about the incident.
Celtic said the individual who invaded the pitch had made himself known to the club and has been banned for life from the Hoops' home and away games.
A 27-year-old man approached the club and was interviewed by staff before going to the police station.
Chief executive Peter Lawwell told the club's website, celticfc.net: "Clearly, Celtic take this issue extremely seriously and it is satisfying that this individual has been identified so swiftly.
"The individual in question has now been banned for life from attending Celtic matches, both home and away."
The incident happened as fans and players celebrated Scott McDonald's last-minute winning goal.
A fan ran across the Parkhead pitch into the path of Milan goalkeeper Nelson Dida.
As he crossed the goalmouth, the supporter stuck out his arm and there appeared to be slight contact with the player.
The Brazilian goalkeeper briefly chased after the man but then collapsed theatrically to the ground.
After a delay, he was taken off on a stretcher with an icepack held to his face.
To relive Scott McDonald's glory night...
Copyright (c) Press Association
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