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Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta Hospitalized After Brutal Foul by Millwall Goalkeeper

Posted : 01 March 2025

Crystal Palace players, staff, and fans endured a tense moment during their FA Cup match against Millwall when striker Jean-Philippe Mateta suffered a brutal foul. In just the sixth minute, the French forward chased a long ball when Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts charged out and delivered a powerful kick to Mateta’s head in an attempt to clear the ball. The impact left Mateta sprawled on the pitch, requiring immediate medical attention as worried teammates gathered around him.

 

Referee Michael Oliver, initially unsure of the severity of the challenge, reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor before issuing a straight red card to Roberts. This left Millwall with ten men for the rest of the match, while Mateta continued to receive treatment on the field before being stretchered off nearly ten minutes later. The injury delay led to 13 minutes of additional time, but Crystal Palace managed to secure a 3-1 victory despite the unsettling incident.

 

At halftime, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish expressed his concern over Mateta’s condition, revealing that the striker had suffered a deep cut behind his ear and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. Parish strongly condemned Roberts’ reckless challenge, calling it "the most irresponsible foul" he had ever seen in football. He also questioned why VAR was needed to confirm the red card, insisting that the severity of the challenge was obvious.

 

Former England international Matthew Upson also weighed in on the incident, describing Roberts’ decision as shocking. Speaking to the BBC, Upson remarked that while the goalkeeper may have made contact with the ball first, his follow-through was reckless and dangerous, catching Mateta full-force in the head. He lamented that such an unfortunate moment overshadowed what had been shaping up to be a strong contest between two in-form teams.

 

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