Millwall boss Alex Neil responds to Crystal Palace chairman’s declare that horror karate kick that hospitalised Jean-Philippe Mateta was ‘most reckless’ problem he has ever seen

Millwall boss Alex Neil dismissed any notion that Liam Roberts’ horror karate kick on Jean-Phillippe Mateta was intentional, after Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish furiously accused the goalkeeper of endangering his player’s life.

Only five minutes had been played in the heavily-policed FA Cup clash between the South London rivals when Roberts was red carded for crashing into Mateta. 

While Palace’s top scorer was being provided oxygen and transferred to a stretcher to be taken to hospital, Millwall fans sang: ‘Let him die, let him die.’

Palace went on to win 3-1 but, speaking at half-time, Parish let his outrage towards Roberts be known.

‘That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch that I think I’ve ever seen and he needs to have a long hard look at himself that lad because he’s endangering a fellow professional – and maybe even his life with a challenge like that.

‘It is difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game if you’re worried about JP. It is a terrible challenge.’

Millwall keeper Liam Roberts was sent off early on in their FA Cup clash with Crystal Palace after his studs caught Jean-Phillipe Mateta in the head following a reckless challenge 

Palace chairman Steve Parish hit out at the challenge in a half-time interview with BBC Sport

But Millwall boss Alex Neil insisted his goalkeeper had no ill intentions behind the collision

But Neil argued that challenge was simply ‘mistimed’ and that their was no ill intent behind his goalkeeper’s reckless collision. 

‘I think the ball went in behind, Liam Roberts has come out which he has done in many games he’s played, he’s misjudged it and caught the lad,’ the Millwall manager said.

‘He has mistimed it, he got sent off which at that stage made the game doubly difficult for us. I don’t think it is meant. I don’t think there is any intent, why would there be intent?

‘We don’t want the lad to be injured. We wish him well and hope he is back on the pitch soon. It was a mistiming, he was sent off, he is disappointed and will hope Mateta is fine, which we all do.

‘You are playing Premier League opposition on their own ground so it is a difficult task with 11 men. The nature of the goals probably disappoint me the most.’

Neil added he did not want to discuss the ‘let him die’ chanting, saying: ‘I can’t comment on that. The last thing I’m doing is trying to pay attention to what the fans on the other side of the pitch are shouting.’ 

Mateta was conscious at the hospital on Saturday night as he wrote on Instagram: ‘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.’ 

It is not known when he will be able to return, with Palace facing Ipswich next in the Premier League next Saturday.