‘The most reckless challenge I’ve ever seen’

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Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has called the incident resulting in striker Jean-Philippe Mateta being taken to hospital “the most reckless challenge I’ve ever seen.”

Mateta was given oxygen and had to be stretchered off during Palace’s 3-1 FA Cup Fifth Round win over Millwall after suffering a head injury when he was caught by the boot of goalkeeper Liam Roberts after eight minutes.

Roberts was sent off following a video assistant referee (VAR) review during the game at Selhurst Park  having dashed from his line to clear a long ball but instead kicked the side of Mateta’s head.

Thirteen minutes were added on at the end of the first half with Palace 2-0 up after an own goal by Japhet Tanganga and a Daniel Munoz strike.

Mateta’s replacement, Eddie Nketiah, then added a third late on to seal progression to the quarter final.

Parish did not hold back when speaking to the BBC at half-time: “So far, what we know is he [Mateta] has a bad gash behind his ear. He’s obviously at the hospital.

“In all the time I’ve watched football, I’ve not seen a challenge like it. That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen, and I think he [Roberts] needs to have a long, hard look at himself because he’s endangering a fellow professional and maybe his life.

“It is difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game. It’s a terrible challenge.”

Mateta has been in superb form for the Eagles this season, scoring 15 goals in 33 appearances in all competitions, including eight in his last eight Premier League games.




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