Jean-Philippe Mateta opens up on horror injury and gives response to Liam Roberts

Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta opens up on his horror injury and gives a response to Millwall keeper Liam Roberts.

Jean-Philippe Mateta suffered a severe injury during an FA Cup match against Millwall when goalkeeper Liam Roberts made a high-footed challenge that struck Mateta in the head.

The incident, which occurred in the 6th minute of the fifth round tie at Selhurst Park, left Mateta with a “destroyed” ear, requiring 35 stitches according to his own account in a later interview, having initially needing 25 stitches and specialist treatment for a severe laceration to his left ear, as confirmed by Crystal Palace after he was discharged from St George’s Hospital that evening.

Mateta was stretchered off the pitch after being given oxygen and extensive medical attention, raising immediate concerns about the extent of the damage.

Liam Roberts’ challenge that put Jean-Philippe Mateta in hospital.

The Crystal Palace striker has since confirmed he’s doing well and hopes to be back playing “very soon”.#BBCFootball #FACup pic.twitter.com/FnQLuUBvKA

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 1, 2025

⚠️ No último sábado, em Crystal Palace VS Millwall, o goleiro Liam Roberts deu uma voadora em Jean-Philippe Mateta aos 8 minutos. Ele foi hospitalizado mas passa bem.

Michael Oliver deu apenas o cartão amarelo, expulsando somente após chamada do VAR. ‼️pic.twitter.com/N8NCJYeb5o https://t.co/DNiALZZKTH

— Bundesliga Insider (@BundesInsider) March 3, 2025

The challenge was widely condemned, with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish calling it “the most reckless challenge I’ve ever seen,” and manager Oliver Glasner noted it could have ended Mateta’s career if the impact had been slightly different.

Roberts was sent off with a straight red card following a VAR review, and the fa later extended his initial three-match ban to six games, reflecting the severity of the incident.

Mateta has since expressed how relieved he was that the injury wasn’t worse, adding he feared a possible brain bleed but avoided more serious harm by turning his head at the last moment.

He has since returned to training and hopes to play in the FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham on March 29th, potentially wearing a protective mask.

Despite the horror of the injury, Mateta says there’s no ill will toward Roberts, who personally apologised to him that evening, an apology Mateta accepted.

The incident overshadowed Palace’s 3-1 victory, but Mateta’s recovery is progressing well, with his ear reconstructed by a plastic surgery specialist who “did a hell of a job.”

The event sparked strong reactions, from outrage over the tackle to criticism of Millwall fans chanting “let him die” during treatment, though the latter did not breach FA regulations.

For Mateta, it’s now about getting back on the pitch “stronger than ever.”

“I was afraid I’d have broken bones or blood in my brain but in fact, my ear was just destroyed,” Mateta told L’Équipe.

“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.’”

In a TV exclusive with Sky Sports News’ chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol, Mateta said: “When he kicked me, I was on the floor waiting for him to get the red card. I was good to go. I thought, ‘just get the blood off and keep going’.

Mateta has accepted an apology from Roberts, who’ been banned for six games by the Football Association.

He added: “From Palace, everyone was texting me and wanted to come to the hospital to see me. The doctor told them it was OK and that I would be visiting the training ground.

“Liam contacted me and texted me while I was in hospital and I told him ‘it is OK it is football’. He apologised. He was worried.”

Questioned whether he had forgiven Roberts, Mateta said: ‘I told him, “Don’t worry, it’s not that serious.

“He could have avoided doing that, but these things happen.

“I don’t think he woke up and thought I want to cut the head of JP,. There is a lot of pressure. He wanted to do good, too much emotion makes you do crazy things. It was just a mistake. You learn from it.”

On the abuse towards Roberts: “It is crazy but you know the fans will react on social media,” he said. “I didn’t send them to do this.”

Mateta was taken to St George’s Hospital for urgent surgery, but a specialist refused to let him see the damage to the side of his head.

He will need to wear a mask to protect his ear when he returns to the pitch while also being spared the full details of his gruesome injury.

“A plastic surgery specialist came and took pictures of my ear, which he refused to show me, so as not to let them stay in my head,” said Mateta.

“Obviously, it didn’t look like an ear any more. At the beginning of the operation, the surgeon had a lot of trouble, but afterwards, as he explained to me, he found a way to save my ear. He did a hell of a job.”

Mateta’s Mum flew over from Paris to help him as he recovered and he joined the Palace team in a training camp in Marbella last week and has since had his bandage removed.

“I have to be careful to prevent it from getting infected, I have to wash it every time I sweat,” he said.

“Next week, I should be able to participate in training matches, but for that, I’ll need a mask while my ear finishes healing. I’ve been sent several models, and I’ll have to choose between those that just cover the ear and others that cover the whole face.”

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Meanwhile, BBC Sport report that Crystal Palace accused Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts of injuring Jean-Philippe Mateta with “the most extreme and violent force”.

Written reasons in relation to the FA’s appeal to increase Roberts’ initial three-match ban, the Premier League club submitted an emotional letter to the FA which was viewed by the regulatory commission overseeing the case.

“LR [Roberts] was fully aware of JPM [Mateta]; had time to pull out of the challenge but proceeded with the most extreme and violent force he could possibly have mustered.”

Despite Palace’s letter, the commission – which agreed the three -match ban was insufficient – questioned the FA’s reliance on it and much of it needed to be treated with “considerable caution”.

“The hyperbole within CPFC letter does not assist the Commission in assessing the evidence in an unemotional, rational and impartial manner,” it added.

“The vast majority of the CPFC letter must be treated with considerable caution as an exaggerated and partial account of events.

“The FA’s reliance of the CPFC letter is, therefore, somewhat troubling.”

The FA said the degree of recklessness was “truly exceptional” and wanted to make it clear to players that “highly reckless actions will have severe consequences.”

‘Devastated’ Liam Roberts speaks out after being hit with SIX game ban by the FA

Roberts contacted Mateta by phone number just before 7pm on the day of the FA Cup tie, with the striker replying a few hours later.

He told the commission: “I have made a mistake, in a fraction of a second, with terrible consequences for Mr Mateta, which I deeply regret.”

He added: “I was instantly devastated by the incident. I could see that Mateta was injured and receiving treatment… my immediate concern was for him.

“Although I don’t accept that the standard punishment is insufficient, I accept that the challenge was reckless and that the sending off was justified. Again, I am very sorry.”

Roberts has taken down his social media after receiving abuse following the challenge in the fifth-round match earlier this month and said his wife has also been targeted.

He told the commission the abuse and knowledge he hurt another professional has “had a real impact on my mental wellbeing”.

Millwall fans heard singing new Jean-Philippe Mateta chants during Watford game