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

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.

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Liam Roberts was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Jean-Philippe Mateta[/caption]

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The keeper has been hit with an additional three-match ban[/caption]

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Mateta received oxygen and was taken to hospital[/caption]

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.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish declared it “the most reckless tackle I’ve seen”.

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.”