Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts has been banned for six matches after his foul on Jean-Philippe Mateta which left the Crystal Palace forward needing 25 stitches in his left ear.
Mateta was stretchered off and taken to hospital following the challenge in last Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie between the south London rivals at Selhurst Park.
Roberts’ high boot caused lacerations to Mateta’s ear after the pair battled for the ball early in the Premier League side’s 3-1 win.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish called the incident “the most reckless” tackle he had ever seen on a football pitch.
An independent regulatory panel handed Roberts a six-match suspension, the FA said on Friday.
It came after the governing body had sought a longer ban as a standard three-game ban was “clearly insufficient” for the offence.
The Lions’ goalkeeper immediately said he accepted the sanction in a statement on his club’s website.
Premier League veteran Ashley Young could face son Tyler in FA Cup clash
Sunderland apologises to fans after stadium bar decorated in Newcastle colours ahead of FA Cup tie
Roberts ‘devastated’
“I am devastated by what happened. I unequivocally accept the red card as awarded and accept my punishment,” he said.
“Furthermore, it has been extremely unpleasant to observe suggestions that I intended to harm a fellow professional. I have categorically never stepped on to a football pitch with the intention of hurting anyone.
“Misleading articles and comments have resulted in an unthinkable amount of abusive messages and threats towards my family and I.
“To the footballing community who know me and reached out with support through this tough time, thank you, I appreciate every single message.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Millwall said they were disappointed with the outcome but respected the process that had been undertaken.
The FA said the regulatory panel’s written reasons for increasing the ban to six matches would be published in due course.
Read more on Sky News:
Three guilty of spying for Russia
Olympic snowboarder on FBI list
SpaceX rocket explodes during test
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Mateta, who left hospital the same evening, was recovering well but will miss Saturday’s Premier League match against Ipswich, Palace head coach Oliver Glasner said on Friday.
“He had no fractures or concussion. Healing from the huge wound is going as we expected,” Glasner said, adding he hoped the Frenchman would be available to face Fulham in the quarter-finals later this month.
Referee Michael Oliver initially issued only a yellow card to Roberts, but dismissed him after the VAR recommended a review.
