adminTaty Castellanos could face a lengthy suspension after being accused of spitting at Millwall goalkeeper Filip Marschall during West Ham United’s fiery 2-2 draw at The Den.
The incident occurred in the 65th minute of Saturday’s Championship clash, with Millwall leading 2-0 at the time. Castellanos approached Marschall as the goalkeeper attempted to delay the restart, before the two players became involved in a confrontation inside the penalty area. Marschall subsequently appeared to indicate to referee Paul Tierney that he had been spat at.
The allegation has now attracted the attention of the Football Association, with reports stating that a six-match suspension could be imposed if Castellanos is found guilty of spitting at an opponent. However, no suspension has been confirmed because the incident remains subject to review.
Television footage has so far been described as inconclusive, meaning the authorities will have to examine the available evidence before determining whether disciplinary action is warranted.
Millwall manager Alex Neil backed his goalkeeper after the match, explaining that he would be surprised if Marschall had made the accusation without reason. However, Neil also acknowledged that the matter would ultimately have to be dealt with by the relevant authorities.
West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo took a more cautious position. The Portuguese manager said he had not witnessed the incident and therefore did not want to comment on the allegation.
The controversy overshadowed an extraordinary London derby between two fierce rivals meeting for the first time in 14 years.
Millwall appeared to be heading towards victory after Caleb Taylor opened the scoring before Camiel Neghli doubled their advantage just before half-time. West Ham, however, produced a strong second-half response.
Mohamadou Kanté pulled one goal back for the visitors in the 74th minute before Konstantinos Mavropanos completed the comeback six minutes later.
Kanté was subsequently shown a red card late in the match after denying Millwall a goalscoring opportunity, leaving West Ham to defend with 10 men during the closing stages.
For Castellanos, the immediate concern is the potential FA disciplinary process. If the allegation is proven, reports indicate that the punishment could amount to a six-game ban, which would represent a significant absence for West Ham.
Importantly, the six-match ban is a potential punishment, not a confirmed sanction. Castellanos has not been officially suspended over the incident at the time of reporting, and the available footage has not conclusively established what happened.
The FA’s eventual assessment will therefore determine whether the West Ham forward faces disciplinary action following one of the most controversial moments from an explosive derby.
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