Please note that I don’t condone for even a slight instant the actions of the Celtic fan who invaded the pitch in Celtic’s stunning 2-1 win over AC Milan. It was a disgraceful act by a fan who rightfully has been banned from every Celtic home-and-away fixture for life – and rightfully so.
But I think even more action must be taken – and it should be against Milan’s keeper Dida for his shameful cowardly acting display after being brushed against by the Celtic fan.
Dida’s actions following the incident were one of the loudest statements ever for the childish play-acting that has taken over this game.
From Cristiano Ronaldo to a collection of players from the Italian team – players are trying to influence referees by exaggerating injuries and I’m tired of it.
It’s time to make an example of someone to make it stop.
Or have we grown too tired in the fight against these sorts of antics? Have we accepted it as part of the game? I refuse to think so.
Dida should be given a retroactive red card. A suspension from Champions League play. Something to show players that we aren’t going to put up with this any longer.
Yes, Dida could have been hurt by the idiotic Celtic fan whose excitement at the game-winner caused him to lose his mind (and his right to watch Celtic in person). But he wasn’t. He was lucky and the fan barely grazed him with a taunting finger.
We know this because Dida’s first reaction was to chase after the fan before suddenly realizing that he was hurt, falling to the ground and putting on an acting spectacle that would make Tom Cruise proud.
The fan has been taken care of, now it’s time to stamp out these embarrassing antics of players – and let’s start with Dida. Card him. Suspend him. Fine him. But don’t let him get away with it.
If you do – this cancer on the game will just continue to grow.