Dida given two-game ban

AC Milan goalkeeper Dida has been given a two-match ban by UEFA following his dramatic fall during the Italian side's 2-1 Champions League defeat against Celtic in Glasgow last week.

Dida went down after a Celtic supporter ran onto the pitch in the final stages of the match and appeared to make light contact with the Brazilian.

UEFA's disciplinary committee said it had fined Celtic 60,000 Swiss Francs (US$57,000) -- half of which will be suspended for a two-year probationary period -- for failing to keep the fan off the pitch.

AC Milan immediately issued a statement on their web site (www.acmilan.com) saying they would appeal the ban.

"AC Milan announces that it intends to appeal to the UEFA Appeals Commission against the two-game ban inflicted on Nelson Dida," the statement said.

Dida's hearing was based on a paragraph of UEFA's regulations stating that "players, officials and members, shall conduct themselves according to the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship".

Milan insisted before the hearing that Dida's late substitution following the incident had been a precautionary measure taken by the team's medical staff and that they expected no major punishment from European soccer's governing body.

The supporter, who identified himself to police on the day after the match, has been given a lifetime ban by the Scottish champions.