Millwall insist they are ‘disgusted’ by abuse aimed at keeper Liam Roberts after HORROR challenge on Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta

Millwall say they are disgusted by the abuse directed at goalkeeper Liam Roberts following his horror challenge on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on Saturday.

Mateta needed 25 stitches in a wound to his left ear following Roberts’ X-rated tackle.

Roberts has been criticised for his dangerous challenge – Palace chairman Steve Parish saying the keeper endangered Mateta’s life in the incident.

Mail Sport revealed on Saturday night that Roberts had contacted Mateta, news Millwall have now confirmed.

Head coach Alex Neil and Millwall chairman James Berylson also checked on Mateta’s welfare immediately after the game.

And in a statement, a Millwall spokesman said: ‘The club are disgusted by abuse directed towards goalkeeper Liam Roberts following Saturday’s unfortunate collision with Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Mateta was on the receiving end of a horror challenge by Roberts (pictured above)

‘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.’

Mateta was conscious at the hospital on Saturday night as he wrote on Instagram: ‘I’m doing well. I hope to be back very soon. And stronger than ever.  

‘Well done guys for the great job today. I love you.’ It is not known when he will be able to return, with Palace facing Ipswich next in the Premier League this Saturday.

Manager Oliver Glasner added: ‘I didn’t want to see it after the game, because you never want to watch an injury, but because I was told I have to talk about it, I watched it, and it was very, very serious foul play. It was tough to see. I don’t want to see it any more.

‘Just imagine if he hits his face straight, with all this power and the studs, it could have been the end of JP’s career. I’m pretty sure he did not want to injure JP in this situation, but I also think you have to decide when you make such an impact, that you just can’t do it in this way – the risk of a very serious injury is just too high. Everyone agrees the red card was the right decision.

Millwall goalkeeper Roberts is currently awaiting the Football Association’s (FA) decision on whether his standard three-match suspension will be extended

Millwall manager Alex Neil defended Roberts, saying that he mistimed the challenge

‘I don’t feel happiness today – still sadness and doubt because of how serious JP’s injury is. My fingers are crossed, and hopefully he can play in the quarter-finals in four weeks. We all hope it’s not that serious.’

Millwall boss Alex Neil defended his goalkeeper afterwards as he said: ‘What’s happened is Liam has come out, he’s tried to get the ball, he’s mistimed it and caught the lad. It’s no more than that from my perspective. He has certainly not intended to hurt the player or anything like it.

‘We wish Mateta the best and hope he gets back on the pitch. I don’t know how bad it is or how bad it isn’t. I’ll be honest with you, at the time I thought that he might make contact with the ball. I haven’t seen it back. 

‘But the fact is, if he’s caught him and he deserved to be sent off, he deserved to be sent off. I don’t agree with the fact that he has went out intending to hurt the player. It’s five minutes into the game, so no, I don’t agree with it at all.’