Crystal Palace accused Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts of injuring Jean-Philippe Mateta with "the most extreme and violent force", it has been revealed.
The 30-year-old was banned for six games after he was sent off eight minutes into his side's 3-1 FA Cup fifth-round defeat at Selhurst Park for kicking Mateta in the head as he rushed out of goal.
In the written reasons in relation to the Football Association's appeal to increase Roberts' initial three-match ban, the Premier League club submitted an emotional letter to FA which was viewed by the regulatory commission overseeing the case.
Part of it read: "LR [Roberts] was fully aware of JPM [Mateta]; had time to pull out of the challenge but proceeded with the most extreme and violent force he could possibly have mustered."
The French striker was given oxygen before being taken to hospital and needed 25 stitches for a severe laceration to his left ear.
Despite Palace's letter, the commission - which agreed the three-match ban was insufficient - questioned the FA's reliance on it and much of it needed to be treated with "considerable caution".
"The hyperbole within CPFC letter does not assist the Commission in assessing the evidence in an unemotional, rational and impartial manner," it added.
"The vast majority of the CPFC letter must be treated with considerable caution as an exaggerated and partial account of events.
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