Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has been discharged from hospital after being kicked in the face by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts eight minutes into Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round clash, in what Palace’s chairman Steve Paris described as “the most reckless challenge” he’d ever seen.
“We are very pleased to confirm that JP Mateta has this evening been discharged from St George’s Hospital where he received specialist treatment and 25 stitches to a severe laceration to his left ear,” Palace said in a statement Saturday evening. “All scans were clear and JP is feeling well.
“He will now rest and recuperate over the following days where his progress will be monitored by our club doctor.
“Thank you to the medical staff at both Selhurst Park and the hospital for their help and professionalism, and for all the wishes of support that JP and the club have received today.”
Mateta earlier posted on social media to say: “I’m doing well. I hope to be back very soon and stronger than ever. Well done guys for the great job today.”
Roberts rushed outside the 18-yard box and leaped to clear a long ball but his high left-footed follow-through struck Mateta in the side of the face.
Mateta remained on the ground for several minutes and needed lengthy medical treatment before he was fitted with a neck brace and carried off the field toward an ambulance.
“He’s conscious and he’s in hospital, but his ear obviously looks terrible. [It’s a] very serious injury, so of course we hope all the best for him and let’s see,” Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner said after the game.
Parish gave a more emotional assessment.
“In all the time I’ve been watching football I don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse challenge. If you’re kicking someone in the head then you don’t know what damage may have been done” Parish told the BBC at half-time.
Referee Michael Oliver initially did not even show Roberts a yellow card despite being only a few yards away from the incident but then brandished a straight red after being called over by VAR to review the incident on a pitchside monitor.
“They’re professionals and they have to treat each other like professionals and have a duty of care for your fellow professionals,” Parish said.
“That keeper has not had one [duty of care]. Credit to the players carrying on and it is difficult for me to think about anything else with JP [Mateta] in hospital.
“In all the time I’ve watched football, someone mentioned there was one like it in the World Cup in 1982.
“Why the referee [Michael Oliver] needed to go to the screen I have got no idea.”
Mateta is Palace’s leading scorer with 12 Premier League goals this season. Despite his lack of firepower up front for the remainder of the match, Palace still earned a 3-1 victory over the 10-man Millwall side.
“Maybe we are not really happy today. We can’t be really happy,” Glasner added.
“Of course, it’s a great win in going into the quarterfinals, but when you lose a player, especially with a foul like this, you have two different feelings in your stomach.”
Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.
