FA wants keeper Roberts' three-game ban extended

The Football Association wants the three-match ban given to Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts for a dangerous challenge on Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta to be extended.

Roberts was sent off early in Millwall's FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Selhurst Park on Saturday for a high challenge which left Mateta needing 25 stitches around his left ear.

The FA said the standard three-game ban is "clearly insufficient" and has submitted a claim to a regulatory commission to increase it.

BBC Sport has been told that Millwall will contest the claim.

At half-time during the game Palace chairman Steve Parish described the challenge as "the most reckless I've ever seen".

On Monday Millwall said reporting of the incident "contributed to an unwarranted character assassination" and "fuelled abhorrent" online abuse towards Roberts.

Millwall said he contacted Mateta after the match "with an apology which was accepted immediately".

Roberts, who served the first game of his ban as Millwall lost 2-0 to Bristol City in the Championship on Tuesday, has until Thursday to respond to the FA.