Jean-Phillippe Mateta on the floor after his horror injury. (Image: Getty)
confirmed that Jean-Phillippe Mateta received 25 stitches to his left ear and the full course of his treatment after a in their tie. Roberts was sent off after a VAR review and Mateta was sharply taken to hospital after he was given oxygen on the Selhurst Park pitch. A club statement read: “We are very pleased to confirm that JP Mateta has this evening been discharged from St George’s Hospital where he received specialist treatment and 25 stitches to a severe laceration to his left ear. All scans were clear and JP is feeling well.
“He will now rest and recuperate over the following days where his progress will be monitored by our club doctor. Thank you to the medical staff at both Selhurst Park and the hospital for their help and professionalism, and for all the wishes of support that JP and the club have received today.”
Mateta himself has from , 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.”
The opposing head coaches had differing views on the challenge from Roberts, who raced out of his goal to clear the ball but charged with too much force and caught Mateta’s head with his boot.
Palace chairman Steve Parish on a football pitch and suggested that Mateta was lucky not to have suffered more lasting injuries.
Jean-Phillippe Mateta laying on the ground after his collision with Liam Roberts. (Image: Getty)
“He is conscious and he is in hospital,” Palace boss Oliver Glasner said at full-time of their 3-1 victory. “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 got to the ball with this 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.”
Millwall head coach Alex Neil, however, : “The first challenge? I don’t think it’s meant. I don’t think there’s any intent, of course not.
“Why would there be any intent? It’s the start of the game. The ball gets put in behind and he’s just trying to get there. I certainly wouldn’t label it the worst challenge I’ve seen.”