JEAN-PHILIPPE MATETA was rushed to hospital while receiving oxygen after a shocking kung-fu kick from Millwall’s goalkeeper who saw red.
Just six minutes were on the clock in the FA Cup fifth-round clash when Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes played a superb long pass up the field.
ReutersLiam Roberts was sent off for his awful challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta[/caption]
BBCThe goalkeeper came flying out of his penalty area to clear the ball[/caption]
ReutersHis left boot caught Mateta in the head[/caption]
BBCPlay was delayed by approximately ten minutes[/caption]
Mateta and Millwall centre-back Jake Cooper tussled for the bouncing ball.
But Lions goalkeeper Roberts came rushing out of his box.
The 30-year-old did appear to win a part of the ball.
But he then clattered into Mateta with his stray left boot, catching him in the head with his studs.
Ref Michael Oliver initially allowed play to continue with Palace still on the attack but once the shot was headed away, he stopped the game.
To start with, Roberts escaped without a red card and was permitted to stay on the field but then Oliver was sent to the pitchside VAR monitor to watch a replay.
He decided to overturn his original decision and announced the sending off over the in-stadium tannoy before brandishing the red card.
Mateta stayed down for several minutes as he was treated by the medics on the Selhurst Park pitch.
After nearly ten minutes on the ground, he was carried off on a stretcher to the corner of the stadium where an ambulance was waiting to take him to hospital.
The French striker received oxygen as he was taken away.
Eddie Nketiah came on in his place in a concussion substitute – meaning Palace still had their allocated five subs.
Millwall were also forced into a tactical change as Lions No1 Lukas Jensen came on between the sticks – with Luke Cundle sacrificed by Alex Neil.
Messages of support flooded in for Mateta as the seriousness of the situation unfolded.
One said: “So horrible to see. Get well soon Big Man.”
Another wrote: “Wishing Jean-Philippe Mateta a quick recovery after the injury.”
A third added: “Prayers for Mateta.”
And a fourth typed: “Absolutely disgusting challenge. I hope Mateta is ok.”
Palace chairman Steve Parish was shown on the TV cameras looking distressed and shaking his head in concern.
The BBC commentator also condemned the visiting Millwall fans who sickeningly chanted “let him die” as Mateta received treatment.
He said: “Millwall fans are not endearing themselves to anyone with their chants about Mateta. The club could be revisited about that.”
Nketiah thought he had given Palace the lead soon after the match restarted but it was chalked out for handball.
Japhet Tanganga headed into his own net on 33 minutes and it was 2-0 seven minutes later when Daniel Munoz pounced.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside but then it became clear the ball came off Tanganga and fell to Munoz.
A whopping 13 minutes of injury time were added at the end of the first half following the lengthy stoppage.
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BBCMichael Oliver overturned his decision to give a red card[/caption]
GettyThe referee announced his decision over the tannoy[/caption]
PAMedics carried Mateta off the Selhurst Park pitch[/caption]
BBCThe ambulance was waiting at the corner of the ground[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
