The incident occurred just eight minutes into the match, which Palace won 3-1, when Roberts raced out to clear the ball and caught Mateta’s head with his boot. Referee Michael Oliver initially did not issue a red card but changed his decision after a VAR review.
Mateta received extensive on-field treatment, including oxygen, before being stretchered off and taken to the hospital. Parish later confirmed that the striker suffered a deep gash behind his ear and a head injury.
“He’s got a bad gash behind his ear and a head injury. Obviously, he’s at the hospital. We hope for the best,” Parish told the BBC. “That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I’ve ever seen. He needs to have a long, hard look at himself because he’s endangering a fellow professional, potentially risking his life with a challenge like that.”
Palace manager Oliver Glasner provided an update on Mateta’s condition, confirming that the player is conscious but has sustained a serious ear injury.
“He is conscious and in the hospital. His ear looks terrible—it’s a very serious injury. We hope for the best for him,” Glasner said. “We can’t be entirely happy with the win, even though it’s great to reach the quarter-finals. Losing a player, especially to a foul like this, leaves you with mixed emotions.”
Mateta, who has been in excellent form this season with 15 goals for Palace—including eight in his last nine games—was a key player for France during their silver medal-winning campaign at the Paris Olympics last year, scoring five times.
Parish drew parallels to the infamous collision between German goalkeeper Toni Schumacher and French forward Patrick Battiston during the 1982 World Cup, emphasizing the severity of the incident.
“It’s difficult for me to think about anything else with JP in the hospital,” Parish added. “Someone mentioned the 1982 World Cup incident, but this was a dreadful challenge. I don’t understand why the referee needed to go to the screen to make the decision.”
Despite the early setback, Palace capitalized on their numerical advantage to secure victory. An own goal by Japhet Tanganga broke the deadlock, followed by a goal from Daniel Munoz. Wes Harding pulled one back for Millwall deep into first-half stoppage time, but Eddie Nketiah’s late header sealed Palace’s place in the quarter-finals.
In another FA Cup fixture, Preston North End defeated Burnley 3-0 in an all-Championship clash marred by controversy. Burnley’s players refused to shake hands with Preston forward Milutin Osmajic before kick-off, following allegations of a racist comment made by Osmajic towards Hannibal Mejbri in a previous encounter. Osmajic, who started the match, scored Preston’s second goal and celebrated by cupping his ear to the Burnley supporters. Robbie Brady and Will Keane also found the net, ending Burnley’s run of nine consecutive clean sheets.