What Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta said immediately after Millwall horror tackle

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has spoken out about the horror injury he picked up in the FA Cup clash against Millwall earlier this month.

The Frenchman was stuck in the face by the foot of Lions goalkeeper Liam Roberts at Selhurst Park after just minutes in that match. The Millwall man was sent off for the collision, having recklessly rushed out of his box with his leg high in the air to challenge for a ball.

Mateta received treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off and taken to hospital. The striker missed out of the matchday squad in the last Premier League game against Ipswich Town but it is hoped that he will be back in action for the FA Cup clash with Fulham on March 29.

Mateta ‘never lost consciousness’ against Millwall

The 27-year-old has spoken to L’Equipe about the injury and admitted that the first thing he said after hitting the turf was that he wanted to play on in the FA Cup fixture, which Crystal Palace went on to win 3-1.

Mateta said: "I was afraid I’d have broken bones or blood in my brain. But in fact, my ear was just destroyed. A plastic surgeon came and took photos of my ear, which he refused to show me so they wouldn’t stay in my head.

"At the last moment, I had the reflex to turn my face. I was lucky because if I hadn’t, I would have taken his foot right in the head, and it would have been much worse.

"After that, I never lost consciousness. I was lying on the ground, and I said to the doctor, ‘I’m fine, I want to play again.’ But he, seeing my ear, replied, 'No, you have to go'."

Mateta has plundered 15 goals in all competitions this season with eight in the Premier League since the start of 2025. Millwall goalkeeper Roberts saw his three match ban extended to six games for the piece of dangerous play.

Crystal Palace striker in line to return against Fulham

Speaking about Mateta’s injury, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner clarified: "Fortunately, he had no fractures and no concussion.

“It’s a huge wound that was stitched. But the healing is going like we expected and hoped. If everything goes how we expect and wish, he should be available for the Fulham game. Everybody is in touch with JP and messaging him. Everybody knows he’s doing well. He’ll be back soon.”

The controversial FA Cup moment had Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish so riled up that he came to speak live on the BBC at half-time. He said: “So far what we know, he has a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury. He's at the hospital, 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 was, he's 30 years old. That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I've ever seen, and I think he needs to have a long, hard look at himself, that lad, because he's maybe endangering a fellow professional's life with a challenge like that.

"It's very difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game because we're worried about JP [Mateta]. And it's just a terrible, terrible challenge... Why the referee needed to go to the screen, I've got no idea.”

In other news, one Crystal Palace target is also wanted by West Ham and Everton as the transfer race hots up.