Football
Football Twitter Reacts As Millwall Fans APPLAUD Liam Roberts In The 8th Minute Against Bristol City
Ben Horlock is a sports news and features writer who holds a degree in sports journalism (BA Hons) from Southampton Solent University. Ben has been published across a wide variety of news outlets and websites including HITC, 90min, GiveMeSport, Betfair and Zoo Magazine. As well, Ben has worked in social media for four years in the sports gambling industry. For his sins, Ben is a QPR fan and is a keen follower of all the major European football leagues.
Get to know Ben Horlock betterPublished05 Mar 2025
A Liam Roberts applause rang out around The Den during Millwall’s 2-0 loss to Bristol City on Tuesday evening.
The cheering and clapping occurred in the 8th minute of the Lions EFL Championship clash against the high-flying Robins.
That was at exactly the same point the goalkeeper was sent off for his horror tackle on Jean-Philippe Mateta in the FA Cup clash on Saturday.
Roberts will be banned for a minimum of three matches. However, the FA are reportedly trying to extend the suspension owing to the severity of the incident at Selhurst Park.
Mateta has starred in the Premier League for Crystal Palace this season. The French forward has netted 12 goals in 27 appearances for the Eagles in England’s elite.
Now, the 27-year-old’s season may be cut short after he had 25 stitches to a deep laceration to his head. Palace chairman Steve Parish described the tackle as “the most reckless challenge I’ve ever seen.”
Unsurprisingly, many turned to X (formerly Twitter) to demonstrate their surprise and disgust at how fans of the South Londoners showed their for Roberts.
Millwall did a minutes applause in the 8th minute to show for Liam Roberts…
pic.twitter.com/QUNOByYVEc— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) March 4, 2025
Liam Roberts Applause Shocks Football Fans
The Liam Roberts applause from Millwall fans has naturally caused quite the stir on social media. One suggested the cheering was pre-planned and aimed to unsettle the media.
“It was all planned out just to p**s the press off and it work wonders,” @PatrickMosey explained as he replied to a video of the incident.
Another wasn’t happy in the slightest about what they had witnessed. X @GerryHBrennan said: “Nasty f*****s.”
At the time of writing, a @greg_oram reply has garnered 105 ‘likes.’ They said: “Bizarre. Bloke takes off Mateta’s head nearly and he’s the victim?”
Another with the X handle of @Lpool_5843 weighed in as well, explaining: “ for someone who got a red card for that heinous tackle on the pitch last weekend? Weird that.
“Only Millwall fans could do something this idiotic,” was posted by @AH85811154. Crystal Palace fan @SelhurstJon added: “What does he need ffs.”
Roberts is yet to speak publicly about the tackle but it is understood he has apologised to Jean-Philippe Mateta. The 30-year-old goalkeeper will definitely miss the games against Watford and Leeds.