Oliver Glasner described the challenge by the Millwall goalkeeper, Liam Roberts, that sent Jean-Philippe Mateta to hospital as “a very, very serious foul play”, but said he did not believe Roberts had intended to cause any injury.
“It was tough to see it,” Glasner, the Crystal Palace manager, said. “I don’t want to see it any more. Just imagine if he hits his face straight, with all this power and the studs, it could have been the end of JP’s career.”
Related: Crystal Palace through after Millwall keeper’s red for head-high tackle on Mateta
Mateta was discharged from St George’s Hospital on Saturday night after receiving 25 stitches in his left ear, with Palace saying in a statement: “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.”
Speaking to the BBC at half-time, the Crystal Palace chairman, Steve Parish, described the foul as the worst he had ever seen in football. “In all the time I’ve watched football, I’ve never seen a challenge like it,” he said. “It is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen.”
Glasner was more conciliatory, however. “I’m pretty sure he did not want to injure JP in this situation, but I also think you have to decide when you make such an impact, that you just can’t do it in this way – the risk of a very serious injury is just too high. It was the wrong decision that the goalkeeper took in this moment, but I always believe all the sportsmen I know they never want to injure the opposition players, he didn’t want to injure him in this way, but the decision to go to the ball with his foot at this height, with this intensity, was the completely wrong decision.”
As Mateta was being treated, some Millwall fans could be heard chanting “let him die”. It is understood the FA cannot investigate the offensive chants directed at Mateta – which do not breach regulations – but will be investigating homophobic chants directed by Millwall fans at the Palace defender Ben Chilwell.
Glasner was satisfied his team had progressed to the quarter-finals, and praised his players’ resilience in seeing out the game. “I don’t feel happiness, still sadness and doubt, because of how serious JP’s injury is. My fingers are crossed, and hopefully he can play in the quarter-finals in four weeks, we all hope it’s not that serious.
“When you see your teammate carried out on a stretcher and with an oxygen mask, no one wants to see this, for anyone, let alone a teammate or friend.”
The Millwall manager, Alex Neil, was quick to defend his player. “Liam has come out, he’s tried to get the ball, he’s mistimed it and caught the lad. It’s no more than that from my perspective. He has certainly not intended to hurt the player or anything like it. We wish Mateta the best and hope he gets back on the pitch.
“If he’s caught him and he deserved to be sent off, he deserved to be sent off. I don’t agree with the fact that he has went out intending to hurt the player.”
