Roberts punished for comments

Iwan Roberts has been punished for comments in his recent autobiography.

The Welsh hit-man was handed two charges of improper conduct after making reference in his book 'All I want for Christmas' to a tackle on former Wolves player Kevin Muscat when he was at Norwich City.

Roberts was handed one charge of improper conduct in relation to his description of the incident and another charge of the same offence for stating in his autobiography that the tackle he made on Muscat was motivated by an element of revenge.

An angry Gills chairman Paul Scally vowed to assist Roberts with an appeal to the decision, stating his dismay at why the Kent club were forced to suffer for an incident that did not involve them.

"We will be assisting Iwan in his appeal against it," Scally told the club's official website.

"If they (The FA) have an issue with something that Iwan has written, or any other player, then of course they can punish the player by fining him. That seems the most appropriate course of action.

"To then punish the club that has employed him some six years on - where we lose a player and we lose the ability to use that asset that we have purchased - that can't be right.

"What crime have we committed that justifies that? It stinks of almost kangaroo court behaviour.

"The punishment certainly doesn't fit the crime and I see no justification why we should be punished when we weren't involved at all."

Roberts has until October 1 to appeal the FA punishment, with Scally optimistic the ban will rescinded.