Revealed: Jean-Philippe Mateta requires stitches after being rushed to hospital as Millwall goalkeeper who karate-kicked star in the head reaches out to Crystal Palace star
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta required stitches to a gash to his ear after his was hospitalised by a horror challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts.
The Lions keeper was accused of endangering Mateta’s life by Palace chairman Steve Parish, who branded the challenge as the worst he has ever seen in football.
There was positive news about Mateta’s condition on Saturday night, with the striker said to be ‘all okay’ and recovering well in hospital, though he did require stitches to a wound on his left ear.
There was no confirmation last night over whether Mateta would stay in hospital overnight with Palace’s doctor due to keep club staff updated during Saturday evening.
Mail Sport understands Millwall head coach Alex Neil and chairman James Berylson checked on Mateta’s condition after the game, while sources have indicated that Roberts has got in touch with the Palace striker.
Only five minutes had been played in the heavily-policed FA Cup clash between the South London rivals when Roberts was red carded for crashing into Mateta.
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta required stitches to a gash to his ear after he was hospitalised by a horror challenge
Mateta was on the receiving end of a horror challenge by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who has since spoken to the striker
The Lions keeper was accused of endangering Mateta’s life by Palace chairman Steve Parish
There is bewilderment across Palace at how referee Michael Oliver needed to use VAR to recognise Roberts’ challenge was a red card offence.
While Palace’s top scorer was being provided oxygen and transferred to a stretcher to be taken to hospital, Millwall fans sang: ‘Let him die, let him die.’
The Championship club are set to escape punishment for those disgraceful chants as they do not constitute a breach of rules, but the FA have confirmed they are investigating the potentially homophobic songs which were aimed at Ben Chilwell, who is on loan at Palace from Chelsea.
Palace won 3-1 against the 10 men of Millwall but Parish said: ‘In all the time I’ve watched football, I’ve not seen a challenge like it. I looked to see how old the keeper was and he’s 30 years old. He needs to have a long hard look at himself that lad. He’s endangering a fellow professional and maybe his life. It is difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game if you’re worried about JP. It is a terrible challenge.’
Continuing in his BBC chat, Parish said: ‘They’re professionals and they have to treat each other like professionals and have a duty of care for your fellow professionals. That keeper has not had one (duty of care). Credit to the players carrying on. It is difficult for me to think about anything else with JP in hospital. Why the referee (Michael Oliver) needed to go to the screen I have got no idea. He’s a human being. Forget he’s a football player. It is not a normal challenge. We want to progress, but it is difficult for me to look past that challenge.’
Mateta was conscious at the hospital last night as he wrote on Instagram: ‘I’m doing well. I hope to be back very soon. And stronger than ever. Well done guys for the great job today. I love you.’ It is not known when he will be able to return, with Palace facing Ipswich next in the Premier League this Saturday.
Manager Oliver Glasner added: ‘I didn’t want to see it after the game, because you never want to watch an injury, but because I was told I have to talk about it, I watched it, and it was very, very serious foul play. It was tough to see. I don’t want to see it any more.
‘Just imagine if he hits his face straight, with all this power and the studs, it could have been the end of JP’s career. I’m pretty sure he did not want to injure JP in this situation, but I also think you have to decide when you make such an impact, that you just can’t do it in this way – the risk of a very serious injury is just too high. Everyone agrees the red card was the right decision.
Crystal Palace eventually booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory
‘I don’t feel happiness today – still sadness and doubt because of how serious JP’s injury is. My fingers are crossed, and hopefully he can play in the quarter-finals in four weeks. We all hope it’s not that serious.’
Millwall boss Alex Neil defended his goalkeeper afterwards as he said: ‘What’s happened is Liam has come out, he’s tried to get the ball, he’s mistimed it and caught the lad. It’s no more than that from my perspective. He has certainly not intended to hurt the player or anything like it.
‘We wish Mateta the best and hope he gets back on the pitch. I don’t know how bad it is or how bad it isn’t. I’ll be honest with you, at the time I thought that he might make contact with the ball. I haven’t seen it back. But the fact is, if he’s caught him and he deserved to be sent off, he deserved to be sent off. I don’t agree with the fact that he has went out intending to hurt the player. It’s five minutes into the game, so no, I don’t agree with it at all.’
Neil added he did not want to discuss the ‘let him die’ chanting, saying: ‘I can’t comment on that. The last thing I’m doing is trying to pay attention to what the fans on the other side of the pitch are shouting.’
Asked about the potentially homophobic chants towards Chilwell from Millwall’s supporters, Neil added: ‘I’m not in control of what people say. I don’t know what you want me to say. I don’t think it’s my place to comment on that.’
