Jean-Philippe Mateta reveals what he texted Millwall goalkeeper after horror challenge | Football

Jean-Philippe Mateta has lifted the lid on his text-message exchange with Liam Roberts after a horrendous challenge from the Millwall goalkeeper left him needing 25 stitches for a severe laceration of his ear.

Crystal Palace saw off Millwall to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup earlier this month, but the fifth-round contest was largely overshadowed by the sickening coming together in the opening stages at Selhurst Park.

In pictures which quickly spread around the world, Roberts came charging out of his goal to clear the ball, only to kung-fu kick Mateta in the side of the head, leaving the Palace forward motionless on the turf.

Referee Michael Oliver eventually showed Roberts a red card for the challenge following a VAR check, but play was put on hold for over ten minutes while Mateta received treatment from Palace’s medical staff.

The 27-year-old was given oxygen to help his breathing while being carried off the pitch on a stretcher before being taken to hospital, where he underwent a procedure to save his left ear.

Messages of support flooded in for Mateta from across the football community, while Millwall shot-stopper Roberts was slapped with a six-match suspension.

Palace fans breathed a collective sigh of relief as Mateta was seen in training again for the first time last week and the Frenchman is hopeful he can be involved against Fulham after the international break.

‘I feel good, I feel great,’ Mateta told Sky Sports when asked for an update on his condition.

‘I remember everything, the kick, when I was on the floor. Yeah, I remember everything, it was not like a concussion. When he kicked me I was on the floor waiting for him to get a red card and I was good to go.

‘But the doctor, when he came, he saw the injury. Me, I didn’t see it and was like, “Just take the blood off and keep going”, and the doctor was like, “Listen to me, you have to go out”.

‘I was arguing for maybe like 30 seconds, “No I want to play, I want to play!”, and he said I had to go.’

While Palace chairman Steve Parish said the tackle was one of the most ‘reckless’ he had ever seen, reports at the time suggested Mateta had no ill feeling towards Roberts.

‘Yeah, he contacted me, he texted me and I was in hospital,’ Mateta explained.

‘I told him, “It’s okay, it’s football”, and we’ll see.’

Asked if Roberts had apologised during their exchange, Mateta replied: ‘Yeah, he apologised and he was worried. But he did what he did, you know.

‘I’m not a ‘keeper. Maybe if I was a ‘keeper I would understand more… I don’t know what a goalkeeper thinks.

‘But I think he did everything to me to not score but I think he just goes too far.

‘He did a big mistake but it’s okay. It’s not the first time we’ve seen this in football. I don’t think he woke up and said, “I want to cut the ear of JP”.’

Mateta even went on to defend Roberts and condemned the ‘crazy’ abuse the goalkeeper had received on social media.

‘No, it’s crazy,’ he added.

‘The fans react crazy on social media but I don’t know… I didn’t send anyone to do this.’

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