Mateta carried off with head injury after ‘reckless challenge’

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta had to be carried off on a stretcher with a head injury after a “reckless challenge” by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts.

Roberts was sent off in just the eighth minute after a video assistant referee (VAR) review during Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie, having dashed from his line to clear a long ball but kicked the side of Mateta’s head.

The French forward, 27, was treated on the pitch and given oxygen before being taken to an ambulance, with substitute Eddie Nketiah coming on and scoring in the 3-1 win for the Premier League side.

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

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.