A nasty foul occurs between Millwall and Crystal Palace in the FA Cup. Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has to be given oxygen. The red card is delayed.
01.03.2025, 16:05
01.03.2025, 17:32
dpa
A brutal foul overshadowed the FA Cup match between Crystal Palace and second division side FC Millwall (3:1). In the duel between the two London football clubs, Millwall keeper Liam Roberts rushed out of his goal a few minutes after the start of the game to clear the ball at head height from Palace player Jean-Philippe Mateta. In the mishit attempt, Roberts hit the former Mainz striker on the side of the head with the studs of his left boot.
The 27-year-old attacker remained lying down after the collision in the early stages and had to be given oxygen via a mask. After several minutes, Mateta was stretchered off the pitch and taken to hospital.
"Mateta is conscious. His ear looks terrible, of course. We hope the best for him (...) I'm sure the goalkeeper didn't mean to hurt him. I don't want to blame him, but it's terrible," said Palace coach Oliver Glasner.
"Thank you all for your kind messages. I am doing well. I hope to be back very soon," Mateta wrote on social media.
The striker is Crystal Palace's top scorer in the Premier League with twelve goals so far this season.
Referee Michael Oliver initially did not even show the 30-year-old Roberts a yellow card. It was only after video evidence was used that he revised his decision and sent the goalkeeper off with a red card after watching the scene on screen. "That was the most reckless tackle on a football pitch I've ever seen," said Palace chairman Steve Parish.
