Millwall football fans chanted ‘let him die’ at Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta in nasty scenes during their FA Cup clash on Saturday.
Mateta was carried off on a stretcher after a horrific challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts, who was shown a red card after just eight minutes of action in the fifth-round showdown in south London.
Roberts was trying to clear a dangerous through ball – but kicked Mateta in the head with his follow through – with the Palace star badly hurt and given oxygen as he was down on the ground getting treatment for nine minutes.
Mateta, 27, was eventually taken off in the 15th minute of the match, replaced by Eddie Nketiah, as Millwall fans in the away section at Selhurst Park sang ‘let him die’ towards the Frenchman.
‘Millwall fans are not endearing themselves to anyone with their chant about Mateta,’ BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce said. ‘The club could be revisited about that.’
Steve Parish was left absolutely furious in a half-time interview with the BBC, confirming Mateta had been taken straight to hospital, as the Palace chairman and co-owner said: ‘So far, we know he’s got a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury.
‘He’s at the hospital and we hope for the best. There’s a lot of emotion in football but we need to talk to 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 goalkeeper is and he’s 30-years old.
‘That’s the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen. He needs to have a long hard look at himself that lad because he’s endangering a fellow professional, maybe even his life.’
Former England defender Matt Upson told the BBC: ‘We wish Mateta all the best and we hope he is okay.’
Ex-Brighton striker Glenn Murray added: ‘Roberts catches Mateta’s temple with his studs.’
Michael Oliver, the match official, initially failed to award Palace a free-kick for Roberts’ challenge before the VAR (video assistant referee) intervened.
Following an on-field review, Oliver sent Roberts off, leaving Millwall with 10 men for the vast majority of their FA Cup clash against Palace.
Parish added in his half-time interview: ‘It’s 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.
‘They’re all professionals out there and they’ve got to treat each other like professionals. They’ve got a duty of care and that goalkeeper hasn’t had one.
‘It’s difficult for me to think about anything else with JP in hospital. It’s a dreadful challenge and why the referee needs to go to the screen I’ve got no idea.
‘He’s a human being let’s forget about a football player that’s not just a normal challenge. If you’re kicking someone in the head with full force God knows what damage has been done to him.’
While Mateta was targeted by Millwall fans while being stretchered off, the Palace fan-favourite also received a standing ovation from the home supporters, who then started singing his name.