Millwall have been charged by the Football Association (FA) over the behaviour of their fans during their FA Cup fifth round tie with Crystal Palace.
The game was a heated affair, with Palace running out a 3-1 winner at Selhurst Park.
Millwall were reduced to 10 men just minutes after kick-off when goalkeeper Liam Roberts injured Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta and was rushed to hospital. Mateta was eventually stretchered off the pitch
and put on oxygen after nine minutes of play was stopped, with the game continuing to be disrupted by crowd disturbances.
On Thursday, the FA announced that Millwall had been charged with misconduct and given April 16 to respond to the charge. A statement
read: “Millwall FC have been charged with misconduct in relation to their control of supporters following their FA Cup match at Crystal Palace FC on Saturday 1 March. “
It is alleged that, between the fifth and 20th minutes, the club failed to ensure that spectators and/or supporters (and anyone claiming to be a supporter) behave in an orderly manner and do not use inappropriate, abusive, obscene or insulting words or behaviour, regardless of whether explicit or implied sexual orientation.
“Millwall FC have until Wednesday 16 April to respond to the allegation.”
The statement referred to the incidents in the fifth and 20th minutes when Mateta clashed with Roberts, who was subsequently banned for six games following his sixth-minute red card.
After the game, Millwall fans were also observed chanting “fuck you” at the Frenchman, but the FA failed to investigate the behaviour as it did not breach the rules. A
deeply upset Palace chairman Steve Parish was interviewed on the BBC programme of the game at half-time, describing the incident as “the maddest clash in football I have ever seen”.
However, Palace’s on-loan left-back Ben Chilwell, on loan from Chelsea, was also reported to have been subjected to homophobic slurs during the game. Chants included
: ‘Chelsea’s rented boy’ was targeted at the 28-year-old as he completed the full 90 minutes for the first time since moving to Palace in the winter transfer window,
Mail Sport reported at the time, สมัครสมาชิก UFABET วันนี้ รับเครดิตฟรีทุกวัน with the FA preparing to investigate the calls aimed at Chilwell after being informed.