Ex PGMOL chief calls for Millwall man to be banned against Stoke City and Sunderland

Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts is at risk of seeing his three match ban for a red card picked up against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup at the weekend extended.

The Standard has reported that the FA are ‘mulling over whether to file an appeal’ to slap Roberts with a ban longer than his current three game punishment. The FA have until 1 pm on Tuesday to submit an ‘insufficient punishment’ appeal, which would be heard by a Regulatory Commission.

Millwall and Roberts would then have until 6 pm on Thursday to provide evidence to the Commission to argue that the current three game suspension is ‘clearly sufficient’. The goalkeeper is currently ruled out for upcoming Championship matches against Bristol City, Watford and Leeds United.

Millwall goalkeeper facing FA ban

The Lions then face Stoke City on March 15 and Sunderland on March 29. Should Roberts’ ban be extended to five games - the same length of punishment given to West Ham star Mohammed Kudus earlier this season - he would then miss those clashes.

Roberts is only second choice in the Championship with Lukas Jensen number one between the sticks. However, those are the only two first team goalkeepers at the club, which makes Roberts’ absence a blow for Neil.

Speaking to Football Insider, former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett labelled the challenge as ‘horrendous’ and suggested it be upgraded to five matches. He said: “That horrendous challenge by Liam Roberts of Millwall on Mateta is totally and utterly unacceptable. His punishment must be an extension above the normal three-match ban. There is no room for this challenge in the game of football. The challenge by the goalkeeper warrants a minimum five-game ban.”

Roberts was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver after just eight minutes in the FA Cup fifth round tie following the intervention of VAR. An incensed Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish came to speak to the BBC at half time, providing an update on the player’s condition, who has since been discharged from hospital.

Crystal Palace fury after Jean-Phillipe Mateta injured

Parish said :“So far what we know, he has a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury. He's at the hospital, 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 was, he's 30 years old. That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I've ever seen, and I think he needs to have a long, hard look at himself, that lad, because he's maybe endangering a fellow professional's life with a challenge like that.

"It's very difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game because we're worried about JP [Mateta]. And it's just a terrible, terrible challenge... Why the referee needed to go to the screen, I've got no idea.”

Crystal Palace went on to beat the 10-man Championship side 3-1 to progress in the cup. Speaking after the game, Millwall boss Alex Neil defended Roberts from accusations of malicious intent. He said: "I think the ball went in behind, [goalkeeper] Liam Roberts has come out which he has done in many games he's played. He's misjudged it and caught the lad. He has mistimed it, he got sent off which at that stage made the game doubly difficult for us.

"I don't think it is meant. I don't think there is any intent, why would there be intent? We don't want the lad to be injured. We wish him well and hope he is back on the pitch soon. It was a mistiming, he was sent off, he is disappointed and will hope Mateta is fine, which we all do.

"You are playing Premier League opposition on their own ground so it is a difficult task with 11 men. The nature of the goals probably disappoint me the most."

In other news, Michael Oliver was also on the receiving end of Hackett criticism for his performance in that FA Cup tie.