Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was rushed to the hospital after a reckless challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts left him injured during their FA Cup clash.
The shocking incident, which saw Roberts sent off, sparked outrage from Palace officials and left Mateta needing urgent medical attention.
Mateta Conscious but Suffering a Serious Injury
Despite the severity of the hit, Mateta has been confirmed to be conscious. Palace chairman Steve Parish, speaking at halftime, revealed that the striker suffered a deep gash behind his ear and was immediately taken to a local hospital for treatment.
“In all my years watching football, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse challenge,” Parish told BBC. “If you’re kicking someone in the head, you don’t know what damage has been done.”
The incident occurred when Roberts rushed out of his penalty area to clear a long ball but caught Mateta in the head with a high boot.
The Palace forward remained on the ground for several minutes before being stretchered off in a neck brace and transported by ambulance.
VAR Steps In After Initial Referee Decision
Referee Michael Oliver initially didn’t issue a card for the challenge, but after reviewing the footage with VAR, he sent Roberts off with a straight red.
Parish was particularly furious about the lack of immediate action, emphasizing the importance of player safety.
“They’re professionals, and they have a duty of care for each other. That keeper showed none,” he added. “Credit to the players for carrying on, but it’s hard to focus with JP in the hospital.”
Manager Glasner’s Emotional Response
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner expressed his deep concern for Mateta after the game.
“He’s conscious, and he’s in the hospital, but his ear looks terrible,” Glasner said. “It’s a very serious injury. Of course, we’re all hoping for the best.”
Despite the horrifying incident, Palace powered through to a 3-1 victory over Millwall, securing a spot in the FA Cup quarterfinals. However, Glasner admitted the team wasn’t in a celebratory mood.
“Maybe we’re not really happy today. Of course, it’s a great win, but after losing a player in such a way, you have two different feelings inside.”
“He could have ended his career.”
— Justin Allen (@justinallen1976) March 1, 2025
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner talks about Liam Roberts’challenge that left Jean-Philippe Mateta in hospital. #CPFC #PremierLeague #MillwallFC #EFL #FACup pic.twitter.com/OYMbzE7EX2
What’s Next for Crystal Palace?
With Mateta’s condition still being closely monitored, Palace will now turn their focus to their next Premier League fixture against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town.
The club and fans will be anxiously awaiting further updates on their top scorer, who has been in fine form with 12 league goals this season.
WATCH THE INCIDENT
Micheal Oliver kept playing on and didn’t give this as a red until VAR told him to. This is supposed to be one of, if not the best referee in the EPL. At what point, do they start being accountable? https://t.co/v4P3g8Qv47
— Eghe (@egheCyber) March 1, 2025
Leave a Reply