THE FA has warned Millwall keeper Liam Roberts to expect a long ban after his shocking foul on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
In a statement released Wednesday morning, the FA announced that “in the circumstances the standard punishment is clearly insufficient”.
GettyRoberts collides with Mateta on Saturday[/caption]
Mateta was hospitalized to receive specialist treatmentReuters
Michael Oliver needed to check the VAR monitor before sending Roberts offPro Sports
The current sanction is a standard three-match ban, which saw Roberts miss last night’s Championship tie against Bristol City.
He will also miss upcoming trips to Watford and Leeds.
Roberts was given until Thursday March 6 to respond to today’s statement by the FA.
But Millwall have immediately issued a statement of their own.
It reads: “Millwall Football Club acknowledges the FA’s statement and will continue to support Liam who has been subjected to horrendous online abuse since Saturday’s collision.”
The clash came just eight minutes into Millwall’s FA Cup tie at Selhurst Park, a first South London derby since 2022.
As Mateta chased a high ball into the box, Millwall goalkeeper Roberts leapt to clear it, kicking Mateta in the head in the process.
Mateta was rushed to hospital for “specialist treatment”, where he received 25 stitches on his left ear.
Referee Michael Oliver did not initially give a foul but sent Roberts off after a short VAR review.
The FA have now submitted a claim to increase Roberts’ sanction.
Millwall supporters have rallied behind their keeper, holding a minute of applause in the eighth minute of Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Bristol City.
It comes after they chanted “let him die” as France international Mateta received treatment on Saturday.
The club has also released statements in his defence, referring to reporting and punditry on the foul as “unwarranted character assassination”.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish appeared on BBC One at half-time to discuss the foul, saying: “In all the time I’ve watched football, I’ve not seen a challenge like it.
“That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen, and I think [Roberts] needs to have a long, hard look at himself.”
Millwall manager Alex Neil rebuked that statement post match, saying Roberts simply “misjudged [the clearance] and caught the lad”.
He added: “I don’t think it is meant. I don’t think there is any intent, why would there be intent?”
It is not yet known when Mateta will return to play.
Millwall had a minute’s applause for Roberts in the match against Bristol Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
