I hope the FA fails in its Liam Roberts banning case - let's call the Millwall witch-hunt off

If there’s one person I’d not want to be this week, it’s Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts.

Subject to on onslaught of criticism after a horrific tackle on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta on Saturday, the FA has now submitted a claim seeking to extend a three match ban handed to the shot-stopper for that incident.

The Millwall goalkeeper came flying out of his box just six minutes into the fixture, leaping to clear the ball with his fully extended leg coliding with the head of Mateta. The challenge saw the Crystal Palace man receive treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and taken to hospital, where 25 stitches were needed to close a gash by his left ear.

FA seek to extend Liam Roberts ban

It was nothing short of a horror challenge from Roberts. To rush out at such pace, project himself forwards and launch his foot in the air at such an angle was, quite frankly, brainless. Watching the collision in slow motion, it’s truly lucky that 25 stitches is all that Mateta required.

I’m not sure I’ve quite seen a challenge quite like it and, therefore, understand why the FA have deemed the red card and three match suspension for foul play as ‘clearly insufficient’. However, has Roberts not been punished enough?

The challenge was disgraceful, but to suggest that Roberts launched himself at the Frenchman with the intention of causing physical damage is a huge leap. In 266 appearances across professional football, the 30-year-old had only seen red on one occasion before - that for handling the ball outside the area in 2022.

Roberts is not an aggressive player, as emphasised by Alex Neil after the game. The Millwall boss 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.”

Millwall goalkeeper subject to online with hunt

Examples of petulance and pure aggression from professional footballers are aplenty across the divisions, from headbutts to elbows and shoves to stamps. Those moments of violence deserve greater punishment to emphasise a personality trait unwanted in the game.

Roberts has got caught up in derby day rivalry and cup madness, and rightly should be punished, but he has already had to endure the most severe of dressing downs. Just minutes after the red card, outspoken football fan and keyboard warrior Piers Morgan lead criticism of the player.

Taking to social media platform X, the presenter wrote: “Worst ‘tackle’ I’ve ever seen in football. Absolutely shameful assault on Jean-Philippe Mateta by Millwall’s goalkeeper Liam Roberts. He was sent off, but if he did that to someone in the street he’d be jailed.”

Morgan wasn’t the only one to go for such hyperbole but, before long, Roberts became the victim of an online witch hunt. Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett led calls for an extended ban and the goalkeeper’s character was slammed across the media.

Meanwhile, behind-the-scenes, a guilt-ridden Roberts had already personally contacted Mateta, who had accepted his opponent’s apology. While those involved in the incident had dealt with the matter maturely, the same could not be said for the online uproar.

Crystal Palace striker accepts Roberts apology

Rightly, Millwall felt the need to come out and defend their player from what had become a personal attack. In a statement the club said: “The club are disgusted by abuse directed towards goalkeeper Liam Roberts following Saturday’s unfortunate collision with Jean-Philippe Mateta.

“The reporting on the matter, as well as disgraceful suggestions made by certain news organisations and high-profile figures within the sport that Liam intended to harm Jean-Philippe, has contributed to the unwarranted character assassination of Liam and fuelled abhorrent online abuse towards him.

“No player at Millwall Football Club steps on to the pitch with the intent to harm another, and the club will continue to support Liam, who reached out to Jean-Philippe personally on Saturday evening with an apology which was accepted immediately.”

Millwall supporters looked to show their support of the goalkeeper with applause during Tuesday’s match against Bristol City at The Den in the same minute that the player was sent off against Crystal Palace. While that action only fanned the flames of the online tempest that the club had looked to put out, and could perhaps have been done more subtly, the Lions fans had reason to voice their frustration at the situation.

At The Den, BBC Radio London’s Nick Godwin said: “The protest was loud, defiant and appeared to involve large sections of the Millwall home support. Some fans in the main stand also turned to the press box and made gestures.

“Millwall's fan base is intensely loyal to all elements of the club. That loyalty only strengthens if they feel a sense of injustice. Many Millwall supporters feel the criticism of Roberts' tackle, which has led to abuse on social media, is over the top and unfair. Their sense of injustice and frustration came across loud and clear at the Den.”

To be the centre of the storm of criticism for a challenge which, while stupid, was not malicious is surely enough for Roberts to learn his lesson - and that’s without the three game ban, ruling him out against Bristol City, Watford and Leeds United. Roberts and Millwall have until Thursday to provide a response to the FA push to extend the ban. The case will then be heard by an independent regulatory commission.

In other news, Millwall have been handed a double injury blow this week against of Watford and Leeds United.