Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off just minutes into their FA Cup clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The two teams were taking on each other in the FA Cup fifth round tie, with the Championship side hoping to cause an upset.
However, disaster struck within six minutes as Roberts attempted to clear a dangerous through ball from Will Hughes.
After connecting with the ball, the Millwall stopper kicked Jean Philippe-Mateta in the head in his follow-through, leaving the Palace striker strewn across the floor.
Michael Oliver failed to give even a free kick to start with before VAR recommended that he take an on-field review.
After considering his decision, the official subsequently sent Roberts off, while Mateta was left on the floor for nine minutes as he received treatment following the horror challenge.
As Mateta was taken off the field on a stretcher, Millwall fans could be heard chanting ‘let him die’. Mateta received nine minutes of treatment before being taken off on a stretcher, with Palace chairman Steve Parish conducting a remarkable on-pitch interview with BBC Sport at half-time to express his anger at the challenge and provide an update on Mateta’s condition.
“So far, what we know is he’s got a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury,” he said. “He’s at the hospital, and we hope for the best. There’s a lot of emotion in football, but we need to talk about that challenge. In all my time in football, I’ve never seen a challenge like it.”
Parish was then asked for positives surrounding Palace’s current form and about the first half performance, but he added: “He’s a human being. Let’s forget about the football player. If you’re kicking someone in the head with full force like that, God knows what damage he’s done to him. Yes, it’s a good moment for us as a football club, but it’s very difficult for me to get past that challenge.”
When pressed on how Palace had responded to the incident and lengthy stoppage, Parish said: “They’re professionals, they’re all professionals, and they have to treat each other like professionals and have a duty of care. That goalkeeper hasn’t had one. And credit to the players for carrying on but it’s difficult for me to think about anything with JP in hospital. It’s a dreadful challenge, and why the referee needed to go to the screen, I’ve got no idea.”
Roberts had shone in Millwall’s victory over Leeds in the previous round of the FA Cup, but his red card proved to be a major setback for the Lions. Palace took the lead through Japhet Tanganga’s deflected effort, and Munoz made it 2-0 shortly afterwards. Millwall pulled a goal back in the 13th minute of added time, but it was too little, too late.
Conclusions:
In this article, we saw a shocking incident in the FA Cup clash between Millwall and Crystal Palace, where Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off for a reckless challenge on Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta. The challenge left Mateta with a serious head injury, and he was taken off the field on a stretcher. Palace went on to win the game 2-1, with Roberts’ red card proving to be a major turning point in the match.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: What happened in the FA Cup clash between Millwall and Crystal Palace?
A: Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off for a reckless challenge on Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta, which left Mateta with a serious head injury.
Q: What was the score in the game?
A: Palace won the game 2-1.
Q: What was the incident that led to Roberts’ red card?
A: Roberts attempted to clear a dangerous through ball from Will Hughes, but his foot was high and he caught Mateta in the head, leaving him strewn across the floor.
Q: What was the outcome of the game for Millwall?
A: Millwall’s red card proved to be a major setback, and they went on to lose the game 2-1.
About The Author
