Jean-Philippe Mateta provided a positive update after he was stretchered off in Crystal Palace’s FA Cup win over Millwall.
The Eagles eased into the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win but it was overshadowed by Mateta receiving eight minutes of treatment on the pitch before he was stretchered off early in the match.
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts charged off his line and kicked Mateta in the face in his attempt to clear the ball, with Michael Oliver showing him a red card after a VAR review.
Palace chairman Steve Parish described it as “the most reckless challenge” he had ever seen as he confirmed that Mateta had been taken to hospital.
Eagles manager Oliver Glasner said after the match that Mateta was conscious and the Frenchman took to social media to prove an update of his own.
Mateta posted: “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.”
"That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I've ever seen."
Crystal Palace chairman and co-owner Steve Parish has spoken about Millwall keeper Liam Roberts' challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta. pic.twitter.com/gkcR9IMSEI
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 1, 2025
Mateta suffered a “bad gash’ behind his ear as a result of Roberts’ challenge and a furious Parish suggested that the goalkeeper had even put the Frenchman’s life at risk.
“That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen,” Parish said.
“I think he needs to have a long hard look at himself that lad, because he’s endangering a fellow professional, maybe even his life with a challenge like that.”
Eddie Nketiah replaced Mateta and he scored Palace’s third goal of the match to remove any late tension from Selhurst Park.
Palace are now one win away from booking their place at Wembley, but Glasner admitted the injury to Mateta had dampened the mood in the dressing room.
"He is conscious and he is in hospital,” Glasner said. “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, 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 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."
