Jean-Philippe Mateta required lengthy medical treatment after being fouled (Image: Getty Images)
Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta says he wanted to continue playing despite enduring an appalling ear injury during his team's FA Cup win over Millwall last month - and has revealed he's spoken to Lions goalkeeper Liam Roberts. Roberts was sent off for a spine-chilling tackle on Mateta which left the frontman requiring a startling 25 stitches after being whisked away to the hospital during Palace's 3-1 fifth-round victory. Speaking to Sky Sports News, Mateta shared that he was initially oblivious to the severity of his condition. He wanted to stay on until his club's medical personnel intervened.
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'. I was arguing with the doctor for 30 seconds, saying I wanted to play. The doctor saw the injury, but I couldn't see it. I couldn't feel pain. The blood, for sure. But I thought it was a little cut. My ear was like this (dangling). But it was not painful."
Referee Michael Oliver made the decision to send off Roberts only after consulting the pitchside monitors, following which Roberts faced a six-game suspension. He has also been roundly criticised on social media.
Despite the harrowing episode, Mateta bore no resentment towards the goalkeeper and acknowledged that Roberts had promptly extended an apology post-match.
Mateta revealed: "The fans over-react. It is crazy social media. I didn't send anyone to do this. He contacted me, texted me when he was in hospital. I tell him: ‘It’s ok. It’s football’. He apologised, he was worried. But he did what he did.
"I think he did everything for me to not score. But he went too far. He made a big mistake. But it’s ok. It is not the first time you see this in football. I think he just made a mistake. I hope so. I don’t think he woke up and thought: ‘I want to cut the hair of JP!’
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was banned for six matches for his karate kick (Image: Getty Images)
"I think he had a lot of pressure maybe because he is not the first keeper of Millwall. He wanted to do well. Sometimes with too much emotion you can do crazy things. I think he just made a mistake. He will learn from it."
Mateta, who has netted 15 times in 33 games for Palace across all competitions this term, is back in solo training, though his return date remains up in the air. The striker, aged 27, is eyeing the FA Cup quarter-final clash with Fulham on March 29.
"Hopefully, I can play (against Fulham)," he expressed. "Hopefully, they can see me. I'm in the ground every day. I need to wear a mask, I need to wear something. I will take the best one that is most comfortable."