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Millwall disgusted by abuse towards Liam Roberts and BANS Mail Sport over article on ‘let him die’ chants

Millwall say they are disgusted by abuse towards Liam Roberts and BANS Mail Sport over an article published on the ‘let him die’ chants.

Roberts was sent off early in the game for a high challenge that resulted in Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta requiring 25 stitches after being struck in the head.

While Mateta was being treated on the pitch, some Millwall fans chanted “let him die,” prompting significant backlash. Another video emerged of Millwall fans singing about Mateta being in A&E.

Mail Sport published articles detailing the incident, including the chants, which led to Millwall banning the outlet from attending their matches and press conferences.

The club criticised the reporting, arguing it contributed to an “unwarranted character assassination” of Roberts by suggesting he intended to harm Mateta.

Millwall emphasised that Roberts had personally apologised to Mateta on the evening of the incident—an apology Mateta accepted—and that no player steps onto the pitch with intent to injure. They also noted their relief at Mateta’s positive recovery updates.

The ban on Mail Sport appears to stem from Millwall’s frustration with what they perceive as sensationalised coverage that led to online abuse toward Roberts.

Meanwhile, the Football Association (FA) is reportedly considering whether Roberts’ standard three-match suspension is sufficient, with a deadline of March 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM GMT to submit a claim for a harsher penalty if deemed necessary.

The FA is also investigating potential homophobic chants directed at Crystal Palace’s Ben Chilwell during the same match, though the “let him die” chants are not under review as they don’t breach specific regulations.

This situation highlights a clash between the club’s defence of their player and the media’s portrayal of events, with Millwall taking a firm stance against both the abuse and the reporting they believe exacerbated it.

Mail Sport say: “It was after requesting to speak to Roberts, who has not yet talked about the incident and who was criticised by Mail Sport columnist Chris Sutton on Monday’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast, that we learned of our ban.

“Among the accusations directed at the Daily Mail was that we did not sufficiently report Palace’s supporters borrowing the ‘let him die’ chant to mock Millwall’s Camiel Neghli when he turned his ankle nearly 30 minutes after the Mateta incident.

“That was highlighted in both our Sunday match report as well as Monday’s comment piece, in which we wrote ‘two wrongs do not make a right’ while describing the away fans’ behaviour as ‘boorish’ and ‘beastly’ for singing it originally as Mateta lay seriously hurt with a head wound.

“Checks made on Monday with correspondents from other newspapers who covered Palace’s 3-1 FA Cup win over Millwall – and mentioned the ‘let him die’ chants in their own coverage – found that they have not received a ban.”

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

‘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, taking to Instagram to say: ‘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.

‘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 Liam Roberts afterwards, syaing: ‘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.’

Millwall fans chant ‘let him die’ after Crystal Palace’s Mateta gets clattered by Liam Roberts

Stewards watch Millwall fan climb into home end and gets into fight with Crystal Palace fans

Fans reacted with Millwall disgusted by abuse towards Liam Roberts and BANS Mail Sport over an article on the ‘let him die’ chants…

@Selhursteagle80: But they are Millwall and they don’t care? 🔴🔵🦅😂😂😂😂

@TalkCPFC: “No one likes us, no one likes us, actually we do kind of care, we are Millwall”

@ChampionshpTalk: Completely applaud Millwall for this, the pile on by so-called professionals of the game, the main stream media and Mail journalists has been embarrassing. The tackle and the chant are both awful but let’s not pretend this is the first ever time either has ever happened in football. But because it’s Millwall…

@Dave_Manley: I’m all for banning the Daily Mail but not for that

@Venom_MFC: Well done to the club for not taking their bias shit anymore. Ultimately people do need to be called out and this is just the start #Millwall

@AdAmCpFc91: “No one likes us we don’t care” unless is direct criticism of our fans, club or players then we cry 😂

@mfctallpaul: This is brilliant news and about time @MillwallFC started doing this. The press are a bunch of rats and will always find an opportunity to drag our name through the mud and the way Roberts has been treated by them has been a disgrace. Fingers crossed more bans will follow soon.

@paulwham500: Report truth get banned – just sounds like the rest of the world

@richard_pufc86: There were thousands there that heard it 😅🤷‍♂️

@theroaminmagpie: I mean, they absolutely did chant that, it was pretty audible

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