Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish gave an update on striker Jean-Philippe Mateta after he was rushed to hospital with a terrifying head injury
Crystal Palace co-owner and chairman Steve Parish tore into Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts and gave an update on Jean-Philippe Mateta’s condition.
The Eagles’ FA Cup 5th round clash at home against Millwall was paused for several minutes in the early stages of the game after Mateta received urgent medical attention.
Mateta was sent crashing to the floor after Millwall keeper Roberts came rushing off his goal-line attempting to clear a bouncing pass. However, the 30-year-old’s karate kick clearance effort saw his studs slam into the face of Mateta.
Mateta was stretchered off in a neck brace and required oxygen after being treated on the pitch for nine minutes. He was carried to the corner of Selhurst Park rather than down the tunnel, where an ambulance was waiting.
Roberts wasn’t initially sent off, but following a VAR check, Michael Oliver showed the Millwall keeper a straight red card.
Parish was spotted in the stands at the time of the incident looking incredibly concerned at Mateta’s condition. And the Palace chief gave an update on Mateta’s health at half-time.
He told BBC: “He’s got a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury, he’s at the hospital. We hope for the best.”
Parish continued to slam Roberts’ tackle, adding:“You know, there’s a lot of emotion in football, but we need to talk about that challenge. In all the time I’ve watched football, I’ve never seen a challenge like it.
“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. It’s very difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game because we’re worried about JP and it’s just a terrible, terrible challenge.”
On the players’ response, Parish added: “They’re professionals and that’s another thing, they’re all professionals out there and they’ve got to treat each other like professionals.
“They have a duty of care towards their fellow professionals and that goalkeeper hasn’t had one. Credit to the players for carrying on. It’s difficult for me to think about anything else with JP in hospital.
“As I say, in all my time watching football, I think someone mentioned there was one in the World Cup in 1982 like it, but it’s a dreadful challenge. And why the referee needed to go to the screen, I have no idea.”