LONDON (AP) — Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta was hospitalized with a head injury after being kicked in the face by Millwall's goalkeeper during an FA Cup game Saturday in what Palace's club chairman described as “the most reckless challenge” he'd ever seen.
Millwall keeper Liam Roberts was sent off just eight minutes into game after he rushed outside the 18-yard box, leaped to clear a long ball and struck Mateta in the side of the face with a high left-footed follow-through.
Mateta remained on the ground and needed lengthy medical treatment before he was fitted with a neck brace and carried off the field toward an ambulance.
“So far what we know is, he’s got a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury," Palace chairman Steve Parish told the BBC during the halftime break. "Obviously he’s at the hospital, so we hope for the best.”
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.
“In all the time I’ve watched football I’ve never seen a challenge like it," Parish said. "That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen.”
Mateta is Palace's leading scorer with 12 Premier League goals this season.
Palace won 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals. ___
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The Associated Press
