Jean-Philippe Mateta speaks out after being rushed to hospital with horror head harm
Jean-Philippe Mateta has spoken out after he was rushed to hospital after suffering a sickening head injury in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup victory over Millwall
Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta has spoken out after he was rushed to hospital with a sickening head injury to reassure fans that he is okay.
The Frenchman was stretchered off after only eight minutes of Palace’s FA Cup 5th round victory over Millwall after he was smashed in the head by the boot of Lions goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who had rushed out of his goal and produced a head-high challenge. Roberts was eventually shown a red card following a VAR review.
After receiving several minutes worth of treatment and oxygen on the pitch, Mateta was stretchered off and immediately taken to hospital for further monitoring.
Mateta has now spoken out about the incident on Instagram, writing: “Thank you all for your kind messages. I’m doing well. I hope to be back very soon. And stronger than ever. Well done guys for the great job today. I love you. JP. (adding a blue, red, praying and eagle emoji.)”
The post comes after Palace boss Oliver Glasner offered an update on the French forward following the cup win, while slamming Millwall keeper Roberts for his part in the sickening incident. Speaking after his side’s 3-1 win, he said: “He is conscious and he is in hospital. His ear looks terrible. It’s a very serious injury so we hope all the best for him. We are not really happy, we can’t be really happy.
“Of course, it’s a great win and into the quarter-finals but when you lose a player, especially with a foul like this, you have two different feelings in your stomach.
“Honestly, I didn’t want to see it, I just watched it and it is terrible. I’m sure the goalkeeper didn’t want to injure JP in this situation, no player wants this. But if you go for the ball with this intensity, with the foot at that height, you can’t do it because it’s so dangerous and we all have responsibilities for our health. I don’t want to blame him but it is a terrible foul.”
Palace chairman Steve Parish was left seething by Roberts’ tackle, branding it the “worst” challenge he had ever witnessed on a pitch, while suggesting the forward could have been killed. He raged: “I looked to see how old the keeper was and he’s 30 years old. That’s the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen.
“I think he needs to have a long, hard look at himself that lad. He’s endangering another professional with a challenge like that.
