Ex-Walsall goalkeeper slammed for 'horror challenge'

Roberts rushed out to meet a through ball during Millwall's FA Cup tie against the Eagles and kicked the French international in the head in the eighth-minute. 

The goalkeeper was shown a straight red card and Mateta, who has been released from hospital after requiring 25 stitches in his left air, was stretchered off in Palace's 3-1 victory at Selhurst Park. 

"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 his ear," Palace wrote in a statement. 

"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."

Palace boss Oliver Glasner said it could've been a career-ending challenge although he didn't feel that Robert intended to injure Mateta. 

"Tough to see. I don't want to see it anymore," Glasner said. 

"The good thing is, just imagine if he hits his face straight, with his power, with the studs, it is the end of JP's career. 

"I'm pretty sure he didn't want to injure JP in this situation, but I also think that you have to decide when you make such an impact, you just can't do it in this way.

"The risk of a very, very serious injury is just too high, so I think it was the wrong decision the keeper took in this moment, but I always believe in the fair play of sportsmen. 

"I know they never want to injure their opposition players. I think he didn't want to injure him in that way, but I think the decision to go for the ball with his foot at this height, with this intensity was the completely wrong decision. 

"Of course, I think everybody agrees that the red card was the right decision." 

The challenge has also been condemned on social media, with television presenter Piers Morgan describing it as the "worst tackle" he has ever seen. 

Morgan wrote on X: "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." 

Palace chairman also described it as the "most reckless challenge" he has ever seen on a football pitch ex-Saddlers striker Troy Deeney criticised the challenge on BBC. 

"Mateta's family is here," Deeney said. "If he's got kids, his wife, they're panicking now. 

"So there is an element of that, that we don't talking about. The family have to sit and watch that now. 

"As we're sitting here seeing him go away in the ambulance, the family are thinking, 'well, we don't know anything'. 

"There's a human element behind it." 

Walsall-born Roberts, who joined Millwall last summer, made 149 appearances during his six-year stay at Bescot.