CRYSTAL PALACE have revealed Jean-Philippe Mateta has been discharged from hospital following his horror injury against Millwall.
The Eagles hitman, 27, was on the receiving end of a wild tackle from Liam Roberts in the first half of the tasty FA Cup fifth-round tie.
Palace chairman Steve Parish couldn’t hide his frustrations as he accused The Lions goalkeeper of “endangering” Mateta’s life.
But now the club are delighted to reveal their in-form forward has returned home.
In a club statement, they said: “We are very pleased to confirm that JP Mateta has this evening been discharged from St George’s Hospital where he received specialist treatment and 25 stitches to a severe laceration to his left ear. 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.
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“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.”
Just six minutes were on the clock in the South London derby FA Cup fifth-round clash when Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes played a superb long pass up the field.
Mateta and Millwall centre-back Jake Cooper tussled for the bouncing ball.
But Lions goalkeeper Roberts came rushing out of his box.
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The 30-year-old did appear to win a part of the ball.
But he then clattered into Mateta with his stray left boot, catching him in the head with his studs and opening a nasty gash behind the ear of the striker.
Ref Michael Oliver initially allowed play to continue with Palace still on the attack but once the shot was headed away, he stopped the game.
To start with, Roberts escaped without a red card and was permitted to stay on the field but then Oliver was sent to the pitchside VAR monitor to watch a replay.
He decided to overturn his original decision and announced the sending off over the stadium tannoy before brandishing the red card.
Mateta stayed down for several minutes as he was treated by the medics on the Selhurst Park pitch while distressed team-mates watched on.
After nearly ten minutes on the ground, he was carried off on a stretcher to the corner of the stadium where an ambulance was waiting to take him to hospital.
The French striker received oxygen as he was taken away.
Speaking at half-time of the match, Palace chief Parish said: “So far what we know is he’s got a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury. He’s at the hospital so we hope for the best.
“There’s a lot of emotion in football but we need to talk about 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 keeper is, he’s 30 years old.
“That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen.
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“And 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.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
