Liam Roberts handed extended ban for horror challenge that left Jean-Philippe Mateta with 25 stitches
Liam Roberts has been handed a six-match ban for his horror challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta. The goalkeeper was sent off in the eighth minute of Millwall’s 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend for a flying tackle on forward. Roberts has been handed a six-match ban by the FAGetty Immediately rushed to hospital, Mateta was given 25 stitches in his ear after being left with a ‘severe laceration’. With Palace chairman Steve Parish calling it ‘the most reckless challenge he’d ever seen’, Roberts was handed a three-match ban, however that has now been doubled by the FA. A Football Assocation statement said: “An independent Regulatory Commission has upheld The FA’s claim to increase the suspension of Millwall’s Liam Roberts. “The goalkeeper was sent off on Saturday 1 March, for serious foul play around the 6th minute of the Emirates FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace. “The FA claimed that – in the circumstances – the standard punishment for this offence was clearly insufficient, and Liam Roberts subsequently denied this. “Following a hearing, the Regulatory Commission upheld The FA’s claim, set aside the standard three-match punishment, and instead imposed a six-match ban. “The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.” Roberts also issued a statement which said: “Hello everyone. As the dust settles, I want to address what has been a really difficult week for all concerned, including my family and I. “Firstly, to Jean-Philippe, who I continue to send my best wishes to in his recovery. As soon as I could, I reached out to Jean-Philippe personally to apologise, and I was thankful to hear back from him that evening that he was OK and reassured me not to worry. “I am devastated by what happened. I unequivocally accept the red card as awarded and accept my punishment. Furthermore, it has been extremely unpleasant to observe suggestions that I intended to harm a fellow professional. I have categorically never stepped onto a football pitch with the intention of hurting anyone. The Millwall goalkeeper was left ‘devastated’ by what happenedGetty “Misleading articles and comments have resulted in an unthinkable amount of abusive messages and threats towards my family and I. To the footballing community who know me and reached out with support through this tough time, thank you, I appreciate every single message. “Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to everybody connected to Millwall Football Club for their continued support. The togetherness throughout this club is unique, and I can’t wait to be back out on the pitch in front of our fans. “Be kind. Take care, Robbo.” The goalkeeper has faced huge criticism for the challenge. On Monday, Millwall issued a statement condemning “abhorrent online abuse” that had been directed at Roberts in the aftermath of the incident. Millwall fans then rallied behind the under-fire goalkeeper in the eighth minute of their Championship clash with Bristol City. Mateta was sent to hospital and was given 25 stitchesGetty Roberts was then sent off and will subsequently serve a six-match banAFP talkSPORT co-host Jason Cundy reacted: “Millwall have come out defending their player, and I get it. I don’t think he meant to do what he did to Mateta. “It was an honest challenge, reckless. I said, and I stick to it, I don’t think it’s just a red card, three-game ban, I think it’s more than that. “There is no place on the football field for that challenge. That’s not just a kick in the head. “I’ve seen kicks in the head, we’ve all seen it, we’ve all played in games, right? That’s not a kick in the head. There’s no play, that challenge should never be seen on a football field. “Some of the stick that he’s got, I’ve not seen it all, but by all accounts, it’s quite bad.” He added: “But I mean, clapping at eight minutes, drop me out on that one, mate. “That’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing. But they’re not the only embarrassing football club that do it, Millwall. “Pretty much every club out there does something similar. They all do it, mate. T-shirts come out, pray for, hashtag, pray for this player.”
Liam Roberts has been handed a six-match ban for his horror challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The goalkeeper was sent off in the eighth minute of Millwall’s 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend for a flying tackle on forward.
Immediately rushed to hospital, Mateta was given 25 stitches in his ear after being left with a ‘severe laceration’.
With Palace chairman Steve Parish calling it ‘the most reckless challenge he’d ever seen’, Roberts was handed a three-match ban, however that has now been doubled by the FA.
A Football Assocation statement said: “An independent Regulatory Commission has upheld The FA’s claim to increase the suspension of Millwall’s Liam Roberts.
“The goalkeeper was sent off on Saturday 1 March, for serious foul play around the 6th minute of the Emirates FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace.
“The FA claimed that – in the circumstances – the standard punishment for this offence was clearly insufficient, and Liam Roberts subsequently denied this.
“Following a hearing, the Regulatory Commission upheld The FA’s claim, set aside the standard three-match punishment, and instead imposed a six-match ban.
“The Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for its decisions will be published in due course.”
Roberts also issued a statement which said: “Hello everyone. As the dust settles, I want to address what has been a really difficult week for all concerned, including my family and I.
“Firstly, to Jean-Philippe, who I continue to send my best wishes to in his recovery. As soon as I could, I reached out to Jean-Philippe personally to apologise, and I was thankful to hear back from him that evening that he was OK and reassured me not to worry.
“I am devastated by what happened. I unequivocally accept the red card as awarded and accept my punishment. Furthermore, it has been extremely unpleasant to observe suggestions that I intended to harm a fellow professional. I have categorically never stepped onto a football pitch with the intention of hurting anyone.
“Misleading articles and comments have resulted in an unthinkable amount of abusive messages and threats towards my family and I. To the footballing community who know me and reached out with support through this tough time, thank you, I appreciate every single message.
“Finally, I want to say a huge thank you to everybody connected to Millwall Football Club for their continued support. The togetherness throughout this club is unique, and I can’t wait to be back out on the pitch in front of our fans.
“Be kind. Take care, Robbo.”
The goalkeeper has faced huge criticism for the challenge.
On Monday, Millwall issued a statement condemning “abhorrent online abuse” that had been directed at Roberts in the aftermath of the incident.
Millwall fans then rallied behind the under-fire goalkeeper in the eighth minute of their Championship clash with Bristol City.
talkSPORT co-host Jason Cundy reacted: “Millwall have come out defending their player, and I get it. I don’t think he meant to do what he did to Mateta.
“It was an honest challenge, reckless. I said, and I stick to it, I don’t think it’s just a red card, three-game ban, I think it’s more than that.
“There is no place on the football field for that challenge. That’s not just a kick in the head.
“I’ve seen kicks in the head, we’ve all seen it, we’ve all played in games, right? That’s not a kick in the head. There’s no play, that challenge should never be seen on a football field.
“Some of the stick that he’s got, I’ve not seen it all, but by all accounts, it’s quite bad.”
He added: “But I mean, clapping at eight minutes, drop me out on that one, mate.
“That’s embarrassing. It’s embarrassing. But they’re not the only embarrassing football club that do it, Millwall.
“Pretty much every club out there does something similar. They all do it, mate. T-shirts come out, pray for, hashtag, pray for this player.”
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