It’s not that unfamiller to recognize fans running onto the football pitch to get at opposition players. Indeed, incidents such as fans charging on to physically assault the payers have become quite common in Argentina and even Italy in current years. Horrifying as the entire phenomenon may seem, it’s an almost unnecessary part of the football culture.
But it’s strictly forbidden by FIFA rules, whether for bad or for good, that a player paybacks whenever such incidents occur. A footballer is said to maintain the decency, decorum and sportsmanship spirit during a football match.
In this context AC Milan goalkeeper Dida’s shameful and truly bizarre act to follow the Glasgow Celtic fan who hit him during the side’s UEFA Champions League clash last week is against the law. It was his flair towards the fan and then the dramatic collapse that has forced UEFA to initiate an investigation into the fiasco and even a charge has been leveled both at Dida and AC Milan.
What happened on Wednesday evening at Celtic Park would go down into the annals of football history as an occurrence worthy of being selected for an Oscar. Immediate to the eventual winning goal for Celtic scored by Scott McDonald deep into injury time, a Celtic fan rushed onto the pitch and hit Dida. The Milan goalkeeper then gave chase but after moments later fell onto the football feild like parchment. Then a sustitute was sent for him.
The Celtic fan has since been forbidden for life although the Scottish club’s website refused to recognize the culprit. Dida’s role in the incident has been higly ridiculed by the football fans and this time UEFA has decided to open disciplinary hearing against the 34-year old Brazilian international.
Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti has defended his player and has asked for mercy. He says that Dida’s past record is clean and the one-off reckless act on Wednesday should be forgiven. Dida was also at the receiving side of a firecracker during Milan’s Champions League, quarter-final match against Inter Milan at the San Siro stadium in 2005.
UEFA’s investigation is on the creteria of Article 5 of its disciplinary rules and regulations. The step interpreted by UEFA, probe into the whole incident, is admirable, but it is likely that both Milan and Dida would be pardoned off with a rebuke and a few thousand dollars fine.
