Milwall have eliminated Liam Roberts from the membership’s Participant of the Season award vote to keep away from additional ‘horrific on-line abuse’, in accordance with membership captain Shaun Hutchinson.
The goalkeeper was despatched off for a horror problem on Jean-Phillipe Mateta in his aspect’s FA Cup conflict in opposition to Crystal Palace in the beginning of March.
The 30-year-old was issued a six-match ban for his transgressions, in the meantime, Mateta returned to motion for Palace on the finish of final month, donning a protecting helmet.
Roberts had been criticised for his harmful problem, with Palace chairman Steve Parish saying the keeper endangered Mateta’s life within the incident.
Milwall launched a press release within the aftermath of the sport, lamenting the backlash their man had obtained by stating they had been ‘disgusted’ by the ‘abuse’ directed in the direction of him by soccer followers on-line.
Now, the membership have made it so followers can not vote for Roberts as Milwall’s participant of the season, so as to forestall renewed consideration in the direction of final month’s occasions.
Milwall have determined to take away Liam Roberts from their Participant of the Season award vote
The goalkeeper was handed a six-match ban after a horror problem on Jean-Phillipe Mateta
Mateta was carried off in on a stretcher Milwall’s FA Cup defeat by Crystal Palace final month
Membership captain Hutchinson instructed BBC Radio 5 Live in a press release: ‘As we method the end-of-season awards ceremony and have fun a number of the excellent performances throughout the marketing campaign, we wish to be open and clear with you a few topic we have mentioned as a squad.
‘Your unbelievable help for Liam Roberts for the reason that Crystal Palace match has meant the world to him and his household throughout an extremely troublesome time.
‘We additionally perceive that a lot of you’ve got continued to indicate that help by voting for him as participant of the season.
‘With that in thoughts, there’s concern inside the squad {that a} positioned end for Robbo may unintentionally resurface lots of the exterior abuse and detrimental tales directed at him — points we as a membership have been steadily shifting ahead from.
‘Robbo and his household endured countless, horrific on-line abuse following the FA Cup tie. He and his spouse obtained demise threats, his identify was dragged via the headlines, and we witnessed a teammate undergo a nightmare.
‘We will not enable that to occur once more and have shared this view with the Millwall Supporters’ Membership.’
Reacting to the assertion, Millwall followers on Twitter claimed that Roberts’ withdrawal got here as a result of he was set to win the award, or at the least end within the prime three.
That is regardless of the actual fact the keeper has made simply six appearances in all competitions in 2024-25.
Mateta returned to motion for Palace on the finish of final month, carrying a protecting masks
In the meantime, after he obtained his suspension, Roberts responded to the ban together with his personal assertion launched on Millwall’s official web site.
He revealed that he had reached out to Mateta to apologise for the incident, however denied there was any malice behind his sort out and hit out on the abusive messages he obtained within the aftermath.
Roberts wrote in his assertion: ‘Because the mud settles, I wish to deal with what has been a very troublesome week for all involved, together with my household and I.
‘Firstly, to Jean-Philippe, who I proceed to ship my finest needs to in his restoration. As quickly as I may, I reached out to Jean-Philippe personally to apologise, and I used to be grateful to listen to again from him that night that he was OK and reassured me to not fear.
‘I’m devastated by what occurred. I unequivocally settle for the purple card as awarded and settle for my punishment. Moreover, it has been extraordinarily disagreeable to look at options that I supposed to hurt a fellow skilled. I’ve categorically by no means stepped onto a soccer pitch with the intention of wounding anybody.
‘Deceptive articles and feedback have resulted in an unthinkable quantity of abusive messages and threats in the direction of my household and I. To the footballing neighborhood who know me and reached out with help via this powerful time, thanks, I admire each single message.
‘Lastly, I wish to say an enormous thanks to all people linked to Millwall Soccer Membership for his or her continued help. The togetherness all through this membership is exclusive, and I can’t wait to be again out on the pitch in entrance of our followers.
‘Be variety. Take care, Robbo.’
