'He'd be jailed': Piers Morgan slams Millwall star for 'shameful assault' on Crystal Palace striker

Arsenal superfan Piers Morgan has taken to social media to slam Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts following a reckless challenge on Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta, which left the striker hospitalised.

The Lions goalkeeper was shown a red card by referee Michael Oliver after just eight minutes in the FA Cup fifth round tie following the intervention of VAR. An incensed Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish came to speak to the BBC at half time, providing an update on the player’s condition.

Parish 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.

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish fumes at Millwall tackle

"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.”

Outspoken football fan Morgan has now added his opinion on the tackle, not mincing his words in a short social media post. The former Britain’s Got Talent judge wrote: “Worst ‘tackle’ I’ve ever seen in football. Absolutely shameful assault on Jean-Philippe Mateta by Millwall’s goalkeeper Liam Roberts. He was sent off, but if he did that to someone in the street he’d be jailed.”

Alex Neil defends Liam Roberts

Crystal Palace went on to beat the 10-man Championship side 3-1 to progress in the cup. Speaking after the game, Millwall boss Alex Neil defended Roberts from accusations of malicious intent. He said: "I think the ball went in behind, [goalkeeper] Liam Roberts has come out which he has done in many games he's played. He's misjudged it and caught the lad. He has mistimed it, he got sent off which at that stage made the game doubly difficult for us.

"I don't think it is meant. I don't think there is any intent, why would there be intent? We don't want the lad to be injured. We wish him well and hope he is back on the pitch soon. It was a mistiming, he was sent off, he is disappointed and will hope Mateta is fine, which we all do.

"You are playing Premier League opposition on their own ground so it is a difficult task with 11 men. The nature of the goals probably disappoint me the most."

In other news, one Crystal Palace exile is performing ‘excellently’ on loan with his new manager labelling him as ‘fantastic’.