Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta hospitalised after horror challenge by Millwall goalkeeper in FA Cup tie

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Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round tie between Millwall and Crystal Palace was marred by a horrific challenge after Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts received a straight red card for crashing into Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The 30-year-old Lions keeper Roberts was sent off in the eighth minute of the tie with the scores still at 0-0, after racing off his line and colliding with Mateta, with his boot making contact with the French striker’s head.

A long ball over the top of the Millwall defence had forced Roberts off out of his area, but the back-up keeper followed through with his challenge despite originally winning the ball, with his foot kicking Mateta in the head before the rest of his body followed.

Roberts was not sent off initially, but VAR recommended that referee Michael Oliver review the incident, and he then showed a straight red card.

Mateta required lengthy treatment including receiving oxygen on the pitch, and he was eventually stretchered off to a standing ovation from the home fans. He was taken to a waiting ambulance.

“What we know is he’s got a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury,” said Palace chairman Steve Parish on the BBC. “In all the time I’ve watched football I’ve never seen a challenge like it. That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen and I think he needs to take a long hard look at himself, that lad, because he’s endangering a fellow professional – maybe even his life.”

After a lengthy delay, play was restarted with Eddie Nketiah taking Mateta’s place, while Lukas Jensen came on for midfielder Luke Cundle for Millwall.

Palace led 2-1 at half-time and went on to win the tie 3-1.

After the match, Palace manager Oliver Glasner gave a further update on Mateta’s condition.

“His ear looks terrible. It’s a very serious injury so we hope all the best for him,” Glasner said. “We are not really happy, we can’t be really happy. Of course, it’s a great win and into the quarter-finals but when you lose a player, especially with a foul like this, you have two different feelings in your stomach.”

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