Dida, the AC Milan goalkeeper, has been charged by Uefa with bringing football into disrepute following the incident at Celtic Park last Wednesday night when the big Brazilian collapsed like a sack of spuds after being tapped on the shoulder by a pitch-invading Celtic fan.

Celtic have already been charged by Uefa for lapses in stadium security following the episode and will find out their punishment - probably a fine – on Thursday. But now Dida and Milan are to join the Scottish champions in the dock.

Dida became a laughing stock around Europe when TV pictures were studied of the supporter, Robert McHendry of Glasgow, running past him and brushing his shoulder with his hand.

The goalkeeper gave chase to McHendry for a few seconds before pausing, giving some thought to his next move, and then slumping to the ground as if he had been shot.

McHendry has subsequently been found guilty in Glasgow of a breach of the peace, but the incident has attracted even more mirth, given McHendry’s submission during his court hearing that he ran past the goalkeeper while shouting: “Nae luck, Dida.”

Yesterday, in a move that highlights Uefa’s increasing willingness to clamp down on cheats, the governing body in Switzerland announced that their charge against Dida would be brought before their control and disciplinary body on Thursday.

“Uefa has opened disciplinary proceedings against AC Milan and their goalkeeper, Dida, in the wake of events at last week’s Champions League group D match against Celtic at Parkhead,” a statement said. “The proceedings have been instigated under article 5 of the disciplinary regulations – principles of conduct – under which [players] shall conduct themselves according to principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship.”

Uefa have been actively seeking evidence against Dida since the end of last week and have spoken to witnesses at both Celtic and Milan while compiling their case. The internal Uefa process is that investigators bring their charge against a player or a club to their own disciplinary body, which then decides whether a punishment is necessary.

Bizarre as it sounds, one development since last Wednesday’s match which has aided Uefa in its cause is McHendry’s hearing at Glasgow Sherrif Court on Friday.

As well as confirming that he shouted “nae luck, Dida” with an authentic Glaswegian swagger, the court decided that there were no grounds on which to charge McHendry with assault, instead finding him guilty of a breach of the peace.

For Uefa, that decision has proved crucial in their case against the player.

The governing body can now cite the law of the land in Scotland as proving that Dida grossly overreacted to what happened on the pitch.

Yesterday’s developments, however, take no heat off Celtic as they await their own hearing on Thursday. The club are extremely anxious about the outcome of Uefa’s findings in terms of their culpability in the episode, and are privately praying that a fine – and no more – is flung their way.

There is an outside chance that Uefa could order Celtic to have a stand closed off for one of their next Champions League games, though such a punishment seems unlikely.

Celtic have already ordered a re-examinaton of their stewarding given the way that their overexcited supporter managed to encroach on to the field and flatten Dida with a “cleverly-disguised” left uppercut.