Millwall have withdrawn Liam Roberts from the club’s player of the season award vote to prevent further abuse of the goalkeeper, says captain Shaun Hutchinson.
Roberts, 30, was sent off in the Lions’ FA Cup defeat by Crystal Palace in March after kicking Eagles striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in the head.
Mateta required 25 stitches for a severe laceration to his ear and Roberts was handed a six-game ban by the Football Association and has not played since.
The club said Roberts, who has made six appearances since moving to The Den from Middlesbrough last summer, received online abuse and death threats after the challenge.
Hutchinson, 34, said the players had taken the decision to withdraw Roberts from the award, which is voted for by supporters, in order to prevent renewed attention on the events at Selhurst Park.
“As we approach the end-of-season awards ceremony and celebrate some of the outstanding performances across the campaign, we want to be open and transparent with you about a subject we’ve discussed as a squad,” he said in a statement sent to BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Your incredible support for Liam Roberts since the Crystal Palace match has meant the world to him and his family during an incredibly difficult time.
“We also understand that many of you have continued to show that support by voting for him as player of the season.
“With that in mind, there’s concern within the squad that a placed finish for Robbo could unintentionally resurface a lot of the external abuse and negative stories directed at him issues we as a club have been steadily moving forward from.
“Robbo and his family endured endless, horrific online abuse following the FA Cup tie. He and his wife received death threats, his name was dragged through the headlines, and we witnessed a teammate go through a nightmare.
“We can’t allow that to happen again and have shared this view with the Millwall Supporters’ Club.”
Millwall were ninth in the Championship before Friday’s visit to Blackburn Rovers, three points below sixth-placed Coventry City who occupied the final play-off place.
