Birth Date: 12/16/1972
Birth Place: Sydney, Australia
Nationality: Australia
Height: 202
Weight: 95
Position: Goalkeeper
Zeljko Kalac Rumours and Transfers
11 10 2007
Milan goalkeeper Nelson Dida has been banned for two games for his actions during the Rossoneri's Champions League tie against Celtic.
Dida reacted dramatically to being lightly struck by a fan, who had invaded the pitch to celebrate Celtic's winner in the Rossoneri's Champions League tie at Parkhead.
UEFA's Disciplinary Committee have come down hard on the Brazilian shot-stopper for contravention of Article 5 of their code of behaviour.
This rule states: 'member associations, clubs, as well as their players, officials and members, shall conduct themselves according to the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship.'
Now Milan must hope that Zeljko Kalac can fill the gap left by Dida for the Diavolo's two games against Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk.
Celtic have been fined around £25,000 for 'poor organisation and the improper behaviour of one of their fans' and the Bhoys will be under supervision for two years.
11 10 2007
Celtic are likely to escape with a fine today when UEFA rule on the one-man pitch invasion that marred their Champions League victory over AC Milan.
Scotland's champions face charges of "lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters" after a fan ran on to the Parkhead playing surface and taunted Milan goalkeeper Dida following Scott McDonald's injury-time winner.
The Brazilian goalkeeper appeared to be slapped on the shoulder and initially gave chase to the fan, before falling theatrically to the ground.
He was then carried off on a stretcher while holding an ice pack to his face, before being replaced by Zeljko Kalac for the dying stages of Milan's 2-1 defeat on Wednesday last week.
Dida and his club will also have their cases heard by UEFA's control and disciplinary committee today after both were charged with breaching rules upholding "loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship".
But Dida's reaction, which was roundly ridiculed and was described as a "mistake" by Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, will have no bearing on the judgment over Celtic's security lapse.
Chaired by Austrian Dr Thomas Partl, the panel could in theory go as far as changing the result of the match. However, it is understood Celtic will avoid such a heavy punishment.
Celtic are likely to be fined and should avoid further sanction such as being forced to play behind closed doors.
UEFA are sympathetic to the fact that, with fences consigned to football's history, there is always the potential for a supporter to breach security.
The 10 lawyers who make up the disciplinary committee will largely focus on how the intruder got on the pitch.
Celtic moved swiftly to hand a life ban to the supporter, 27-year-old Robert McHendry, who escaped back into the crowd but handed himself in to police the following day.
McHendry admitted a breach of the peace in court last Friday and will be sentenced next month.
Dida is also expected to be fined or handed a warning for his exaggerated reaction to the incident.
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani last night claimed Dida had complained of feeling dizzy after the incident.
Galliani told Milan's website, www.acmilan.com: "If someone feels dizzy, in any case, it's right to substitute him. But I'm not a doctor, so I can't say anything for sure, so I won't."
Ancelotti had previously tried to explain the club's decision to substitute Dida, who played in Sunday's 5-1 Serie A victory over Lazio.
"The fact that he came off was an evaluation which the doctor made, who did not know the extent of the damage and preferred to avoid any eventual risks," the former Italy midfielder said.
And Ancelotti urged UEFA to recognise the 34-year-old's past record and move on from the incident.
"The other night was a mistake," he said. "I don't know why he did it, but I think that the issue must be closed for all the demonstration of professionalism he gave through the years."
08 10 2007
UEFA are to take disciplinary action against AC Milan and their goalkeeper Dida over the controversial incident that marred their Champions League defeat at Parkhead.
The Brazilian was carried off on a stretcher after a Celtic fan ran on to the pitch following Scott McDonald's injury-time winner and appeared to lightly strike the goalkeeper around the shoulder and neck.
Dida initially gave chase to the pitch invader, who has subsequently received a lifetime ban from the Glasgow club, before falling to the turf clutching his face.
The case against Milan and the player will be heard on Thursday by UEFA's disciplinary committee, who will also make a decision on charges against Celtic on the same day.
Dida was replaced by Zeljko Kalac for the final moments of the match and held an ice pack to his face as he was carried from the pitch, though no lasting injury was suffered.
The fan, 27-year-old Robert McHendry, escaped back into the crowd but he handed himself in to police the following day and admitted a breach of the peace in court last week.
UEFA announced then they had opened disciplinary proceedings against Celtic on charges of lack of organisation and improper conduct of supporters.
Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti has already admitted Dida's actions were a "mistake", and the European champions accepted the defeat without challenge.
Ancelotti said: "During the years, Dida has shown great sportsmanship and fairness - he was also hit by flares and he got up. The other night was a mistake. I don't know why he did it, but I think that the issue must be closed for all the demonstration of professionalism he gave through the years. I think that he made a mistake, but that's all. The fact that he came off was an evaluation which the doctor made, who did not know the extent of the damage and preferred to avoid any eventual risks."
Dida returned to action yesterday, on his 34th birthday, as Milan won 5-1 at Lazio in Serie A.
Celtic chairman Brian Quinn was quick to condemn McHendry's actions but also criticised Dida in the wake of the incident.
Quinn said: "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. 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."
04 10 2007
AC Milan accept the incident involving Dida at the end of their 2-1 defeat at Celtic did not affect the result and will therefore not make an official complaint, but UEFA could still act.
An 89th-minute strike by Scott McDonald gave the Scottish champions their first win over the Rossoneri in seven attempts but his late goal sparked off a controversial incident involving Milan keeper Dida who had pushed Gary Caldwell's shot back into the path of the former Motherwell striker.
A supporter rushed on to the pitch and appeared to brush his hand against the Brazilian who, after initially chasing the invader, collapsed to the ground in a heap.
After some medical attention, Dida was replaced by Zeljko Kalac seconds before the final whistle blew.
Celtic will carry out a "full investigation" but they will have to wait until Friday to find out if referee Markus Merk or UEFA delegate Andreas Akkelides have included the incident in their match reports.
Milan's vice-president Adriano Galliani confirmed the Serie A side would not be looking to reverse the result.
"It's a decision that I've agreed on with president Silvio Berlusconi," he told BBC Online.
Local police, meanwhile, are investigating the incident.
In 1984 Celtic were ordered by UEFA to re-stage the second leg of a European Cup Winners' Cup third round tie against Rapid Vienna at least 100 miles from Parkhead after a bottle had been launched at Rudolf Weinhofer who fell to the ground despite the missile landing several feet away.
The Hoops, down 3-1 from the first leg, had been leading 3-0 before the incident and they lost the replayed game at Old Trafford.
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan refused to let the incident spoil what was an amazing result for the Hoops and Scottish football, coming as it did on the back of Rangers' remarkable 3-0 win over Lyon in France the night before.
He said: "I never see anything. I'm like the fourth official, I never see anything at any time."
AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti played down the incident involving Dida saying: "I didn't see it at the time, I have only seen it on a replay. "It had nothing to do with the result. I don't know if we will be appealing to UEFA but I think not."
It was a night of high drama which began when out-of-favour midfielder Jiri Jarosik was named in the Celtic side for the first time since last April.
The former Chelsea star played his part in a game that only came to life after the interval.
Hoops captain Stephen McManus gave the home side the lead in the 62nd minute but six minutes later referee Merk adjudged Lee Naylor to have grappled too enthusiastically with Milan skipper Massimo Ambrosini inside the penalty area and Kaka stroked home the spot-kick.
But McDonald's late goal sealed Celtic's first victory of this campaign and set them up for their next match against Benfica in Lisbon.
Strachan claimed that "McDonald deserved his goal" while stating that Jarosik was "excellent" but the Parkhead boss will be hoping that all his side's good work will not be undone by UEFA and one over-exuberant supporter.
