Liam Roberts: Millwall goalkeeper receives extended ban over horror Jean-Philippe Mateta challenge
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Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts has been banned for six matches for his challenge on Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, after an independent regulatory commission upheld the Football Association’s claim that the usual three-game ban would be an insufficient punishment.
Mateta was left with 25 stitches in his ear as a result of the challenge from Roberts, which saw the goalkeeper sent off and the Crystal Palace chairman, Steve Parish, calling it “the most reckless challenge I’ve ever seen”. The French forward has been discharged from hospital and is “doing well” while recovering at home, according to his manager Oliver Glasner.
Roberts will be unable to play for Millwall until at least 12 April, with the goalkeeper missing the club’s next six Championship games. The FA appealed against the usual three-match ban, insisting that the offence was of a nature that would make the standard punishment “clearly insufficient”, and opening the door to a longer ban being imposed on Roberts. The FA said Roberts denied the charge.
A statement on Friday read: “An independent regulatory commission has upheld The FA’s claim to increase the suspension of Millwall’s Liam Roberts. 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.”
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