- The FA wants to extend Liam Roberts' three-match ban
- Millwall will challenge the FA's request and support Roberts
- Palace's Steve Parish called the challenge reckless
The Football Association is seeking to extend the three-match ban given to Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts for a dangerous tackle on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Roberts was red-carded in the eighth minute of Millwall’s FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Selhurst Park on Saturday for a high challenge that left Mateta with 25 stitches to his left ear.
The FA has stated that the standard three-game suspension for serious foul play is “clearly insufficient” and has filed a request with a regulatory commission to increase the penalty.
BBC Sport reports that Millwall intends to challenge the FA’s request. The club has until Tuesday to submit a response.
In a statement, Millwall expressed their ongoing support for Roberts, who has faced “horrendous online abuse” following the incident.
If the FA’s request is approved, the commission will decide on a revised sanction. If the claim is rejected, the original three-match ban will stand.
In 2023, Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic had his three-game ban increased to eight games following an FA appeal after he pushed referee Chris Kavanagh during an FA Cup loss to Manchester United.
A similar appeal in 2013, when the FA sought to extend Chelsea’s Eden Hazard’s three-match ban after he kicked a ball boy during a League Cup match against Swansea, was dismissed.
On Saturday, Palace chairman Steve Parish called Roberts’ challenge “the most reckless I’ve ever seen,” stating it “endangered a fellow professional and perhaps even his life.”
On Monday, Millwall stated that the media coverage of the incident had led to an “unwarranted character assassination” of Roberts.
The club also confirmed that Roberts reached out to Mateta after the match to apologize, and the apology was immediately accepted.
Roberts began serving his ban during Millwall’s 2-0 Championship loss to Bristol City on Tuesday.
Millwall fans showed their support by holding a minute’s applause after eight minutes of play and chanting “there’s only one Liam Roberts,” though some boos were also heard.
Referee Michael Oliver, who issued Roberts’ red card after VAR intervention, will not officiate any Premier League matches this weekend.
