Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was stretchered off with a head injury after a “reckless challenge” by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts during Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie.
Roberts was shown a red card in the eighth minute following a VAR review, having charged out to clear a long ball but instead struck Mateta’s head with his foot.
The 27-year-old French forward received on-pitch treatment, including oxygen, before being taken to an ambulance. Substitute Eddie Nketiah replaced him and scored in Palace’s 3-1 victory.
Mateta was later confirmed to require surgery on his ear at the hospital.
The Football Association has condemned offensive chants from visiting fans, including “let him die” remarks directed at Mateta during his treatment, though these do not breach FA regulations. However, the FA will investigate homophobic chants directed at Palace’s Ben Chilwell, on loan from Chelsea.
Thirteen minutes of added time followed the incident, with Palace already leading 2-0 through Japhet Tanganga’s own goal and a strike by Daniel Munoz.
Palace chairman Steve Parish told BBC One 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 overall – including eight in his past eight Premier League games.
‘It could have been the end of JP’s career’ – Glasner
Speaking after the match Palace boss Oliver Glasner said the incident was so bad he initially did not want to watch it again.
“He’s at the hospital and I heard he’s conscious, and he has a serious ear injury,” Glasner said.
“I didn’t want to see it after the game, because you never want to watch an injury, but because I was told you have to talk about it, I watched it, and it was very, very serious foul play.
“Just imagine if he hits his face straight, with all this power and the studs, it could have been the end of JP’s career.
“I’m pretty sure he did not want to injure JP in this situation, but I also think you have to decide when you make such an impact, that you just can’t do it in this way – the risk of a very serious injury is just too high.
“I don’t feel happiness today, still sadness and doubt, because of how serious JP’s injury is. My fingers are crossed, and hopefully he can play in the quarter-finals, in four weeks, we all hope it’s not that serious.”
Millwall manager Alex O’Neil added: “He’s tried to get the ball, he’s mistimed it and caught the lad. It’s no more than that from my perspective.
“He has certainly not intended to hurt the player or anything like it. We wish Mateta the best and hope he gets back on the pitch.”