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Liam Roberts slapped with huge extended ban after Mateta horror challenge as Millwall release ‘disappointed’ statement

  /  autty

MILLWALL goalkeeper Liam Roberts has been hit with an additional three-match ban by the FA.

Roberts was sent off for a horrendous tackle on Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta in the FA Cup last weekend.

Mateta received oxygen on the pitch before being taken to hospital, where he received 25 stitches in his ear.

Roberts was shown a red card by Michael Oliver, who initially did not even award a free-kick.

The keeper was set to serve a three-match ban for dangerous play, but has now been handed a more severe punishment by the FA.

Millwall revealed they were "disappointed" by the decision to extend Roberts' ban but respect the processes undertaken.

The FA appealed the usual three-match ban because they believed the nature of the offence mean the standard punishment was “clearly insufficient”.

Mateta was released from hospital after a few hours as outrage grew surrounding the incident.

In a statement, Roberts said: "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."

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish had declared the challenge "the most reckless tackle I've seen".

Speaking at half-time of the match he said: "So far what we know is he's got a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury. He's at the hospital so we hope for the best.

"There's a lot of emotion in football but we need to talk about that challenge.

"In all the time I've watched football, I've never seen a challenge like it.

"I looked to see how old the keeper is, he's 30 years old.

"That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I've ever seen.

"And he needs to have a long, hard look at himself that lad.

"Because he's endangering a fellow professional, maybe even his life, with a challenge like that."

Related: Millwall