Jean-Philippe Mateta sustains head injury after Millwall keeper challenge in FA Cup
Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta must be injured on the stretcher after Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts faces a reckless challenge.
The eighth minute after the Video Assistant Comment (VAR) Roberts is Saturday’s FA Cup fifth round tierushing away from his line to clear a long ball, but kicking Mateta in the head.
The 27-year-old French striker was treated on the court and given oxygen before being taken to an ambulance, and substitute Eddie Nketiah was substituted and won the Premier League with a 3-1 victory.
At the end of the first half, the palace rose 2-0 after Japhet Tanganga and Daniel Munoz strike their own goals.
Palace Chairman Steve Parish told BBC One in the half-time: “So far, we know that he (Mateta) has a bad outbreak behind his ears. He is obviously in the hospital.
“I haven’t seen any challenge like this in all the time I’ve seen football. It’s the most resilient challenge I’ve ever seen on the football field, and I think he (Roberts) needs to look at himself for a long time because he’s jeopardizing his companions, maybe his life.
“I have a hard time talking about the rest of the game. It’s a terrible challenge.”
Mateta’s Hawks have been doing well this season, scoring 15 goals in 33 overall – including eight goals in the last eight Premier League games.
