Premier League Crystal Palace beat second-tier Millwall 3-1 to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday but the win was marred by an injury to in-form forward Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The 27-year-old Frenchman was struck on the head by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts in the early stages at Selhurst Park and needed oxygen on the pitch before being taken to hospital, suffering from concussion.
PACrystal Palace ran out 3-1 winners against Millwall in their FA Cup fifth-round clash[/caption]
REXBut the match was marred by a horror injury to Palace striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta[/caption]
RexThe striker was stretchered off and taken to hospital after Liam Roberts’ horror tackle[/caption]
Roberts was shown a red card, following a VAR review, after coming off his line to clear a long ball and catching the on-rushing Mateta in the head with his raised studs.
An own goal by defender Japhet Tanganga in the 33rd minute and a close-range effort by Daniel Munoz put Palace in command.
But 10-man Millwall hit back before halftime through Wes Harding and pushed Palace hard in the second period.
Eddie Nketiah, who had replaced Mateta, sealed Palace’s progress in the 81st minute with a looping header.
Mateta received treatment for 14 minutes before being stretchered off by and taken to the hospital.
After the match, Palace boss Oliver Glasner said of the Frenchman: “He is in hospital. Has a serious ear injury.
“I couldn’t see it live. I didn’t want to see it after the game. I didn’t want to watch the injury.
“I watched it because I knew I had to talk about it. It was a very serious foul play. It’s tough to see. I don’t want to watch it again.
GettyOliver Glasner was left sickened by the injury to Jean-Philippe Mateta[/caption]
“Imagine it could have ended his career. He didn’t want to make such a challenge, but his decision to make the challenge was wrong.
“I believe in fair play and all sportsmen don’t want to injure another. His decision with his foot with this intensity was wrong.
“What has happened is this: Liam has come out and gone for the ball, he’s mistimed it and made contact with the player.
“It’s no more than that. He didn’t intend to hurt anyone. We wish him the best and hope he gets soon on the pitch.
“I thought he made contact with the ball, but he has made contact with the player and deserved to be sent off.”
During the half-time interval, Palace chairman Steve Parish said of the tackle: “We need to talk about that challenge.
“In all the time I’ve watched football, I’ve never seen a challenge like it.
“I looked to see how old the keeper is, he’s 30 years old.
“That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen.
BBCCrystal Palace chairman Steve Parish was flabbergasted by the challenge[/caption]
“And he needs to have a long, hard look at himself that lad because he’s endangering a fellow professional, maybe even his life, with a challenge like that.
“It’s very difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game because we’re worried about JP in [the] hospital. It’s just a terrible, terrible challenge.
“That goalkeeper hasn’t shown a duty of care to another professional.
“Someone mentioned there was one in the 1982 World Cup like it.
“But it’s a dreadful challenge and why the referee needs to go the screen, I’ve no idea.
“Forget about him being a football player, he is a human being. That is not a normal challenge.
“If you’re kicking someone in the head with the full force, God knows what damage has been done to him.”
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