Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has shared details of his text message exchange with Liam Roberts after a dangerous tackle by the Millwall goalkeeper left him with a severe ear laceration that required 25 stitches.
Earlier this month, Crystal Palace secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals with a victory over Millwall. However, the fifth-round clash was overshadowed by Roberts’ reckless challenge on Mateta.
During the match at Selhurst Park, Roberts rushed out of his goal in an attempt to clear the ball but instead delivered a kung-fu-style kick to Mateta’s head, leaving the forward motionless on the pitch.
Palace’s medical team provided immediate treatment, administering oxygen before Mateta was taken to the hospital. Following the incident, the English FA issued Roberts a six-match suspension.
Providing an update on his condition, Mateta told Sky Sports, “I feel good, I feel great. I remember everything—the kick, lying on the floor. It wasn’t like a concussion. When he kicked me, I stayed down, waiting for him to get a red card, and I was ready to continue.”
Mateta also revealed his conversation with Roberts after the incident. “He reached out to me, he texted while I was in the hospital. I told him, ‘It’s okay, it’s football. We’ll see.’”
He continued, “He apologized and seemed genuinely concerned. But what’s done is done. I’m not a goalkeeper, so maybe I don’t fully understand their perspective. But I feel like he went too far trying to stop me from scoring.”
