Millwall fans pay tribute to goalkeeper in same minute he injured mateta

SECTIONS OF THE CROWD APPLAUDED IN THE EIGHTH MINUTE OF MILLWALL'S MATCH AGAINST BRISTOL CITY - THE SAME MINUTE IN WHICH GOALKEEPER LIAM ROBERTS WAS SENT OFF AGAINST CRYSTAL PALACE

22:19, 04 Mar 2025Updated 22:21, 04 Mar 2025 Football fans made their feelings clear after sections of the Millwall crowd applauded goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the eighth minute of their

Championship match against Bristol City. Roberts was sent off in the eighth minute of the Lions' previous match, an FA Cup defeat at Crystal Palace. He clattered into Palace striker

Jean-Philippe Mateta, with the Frenchman receiving oxygen before he was stretchered off and subsequently taken to hospital. Millwall themselves condemned abuse directed at Roberts after the

incident, with a club statement reading: “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." The applause for Roberts on

Tuesday has been met with a mixed reception, though. Suggestions were made online the day before the game that fans were planning the gesture, and supporters of other sides have given their

verdict. READ MORE: FA consider extended ban for Millwall 'keeper after Jean-Philippe Mateta horror tackleREAD MORE: Jean-Philippe Mateta's response to Millwall keeper's

post-match message on horror tackle "If you are one of the Millwall fans cheering for your banned goalkeeper in the 8th minute to celebrate him hospitalising an opponent then you should

be kicked in the head," one social media user wrote. "Clapping in the 8th minute, Millwall, that was incredibly cringe," was the opinion of one Bristol City fan. "Have I

just heard that right, Millwall had a minutes applause for a goalkeeper that nearly took someone’s head off?" wrote a third. "Stupidest saga of all time," another said in

response to the behaviour. "Whole thing has been blown out of proportion. It was a red card, move on." _WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE MILLWALL FANS' ACTIONS? HAVE YOUR SAY IN THE

COMMENTS SECTION_ Millwall announced on Tuesday that Roberts had personally apologised to Mateta, who "instantly" accepted the apology. "The club are pleased to hear positive

updates from Jean-Philippe and wish him the best in his recovery,” their statement continued. Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner spoke about the challenge, with Palace themselves

confirming Mateta had been released from hospital on Saturday night. “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," Glasner said. "It was the wrong decision that the goalkeeper took in this

moment, but I always believe all the sportsmen I know they never want to injure the opposition players, he didn’t want to injure him in this way. But the decision to go to the ball with his

foot at this height, with this intensity, was the completely wrong decision. I don’t feel happiness, 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. When you see your teammate carried out on a stretcher and with an oxygen mask, no

one wants to see this, for anyone, let alone a teammate or friend.” Join our new WhatsApp community _and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community

members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read

our_ _Privacy Notice._ Article continues below Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we

generate from it. Learn more £43 £35 Sky Get the deal here Sky has slashed the price of its ESSENTIAL TV AND SKY SPORTS bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering

more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.