Roberts' ban extended - but original was punishment enough
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts has had his ban extended to six matches following a horror tackle on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta – but the original ban should have been punishment enough.
That’s the view of former Eagles hitman Clinton Morrison who believes that while the challenge, which left Mateta with 25 stitches in his ear, was horrendous, it wasn’t malicious.
Speaking before the FA succeeded in extending the ban, Morrison said: “It is a very, very bad tackle but it was in the heat of the moment, and I don’t think it was intentional. I think a three-game ban is probably fair. It was reckless and out of control, but I think it is the right decision.
“I actually do think he genuinely did go for the ball, but it was a stupid tackle and a very stupid decision and maybe should have gone with his head instead of his feet.
“I'm just glad that Mateta is alright. You know it's a bad one when you're having that many stitches. But it's all about Mateta and his health so I'm glad he's healthy and he's out of hospital and at home recovering.
“It's one of those where you see the goalkeeper coming for it and he's come with his feet, but then he's caught Mateta. And that is one of our best referees - I do like Michael Oliver; I think he's a fantastic referee - but I don't understand how he's missed it.
“VAR has done its job. I thought VAR handled the situation well, told him to go and look at the monitor and it was the right call to give a red card. It was a bad challenge.”
Palace boss Oliver Glasner is keen to move on from the FA Cup controversy as he prepares his side to face Ipswich this weekend - without Mateta.
A win over the tractor boys could put Palace into the top half of the Premier League.
Read Clinton Morrison’s blog here: