Millwall keeper ‘contacts’ Jean-Philippe Mateta after tackle left him needing 25 stitches | Football | Sport

Millwall keeper Liam Roberts has reportedly reached out to Jean-Philippe Mateta following his reckless tackle that saw the Crystal Palace striker sent to hospital.

Roberts was sent off in the early stages of the match after coming out of his goal to try and win the ball ahead of Mateta. He managed to touch the ball, but his momentum saw his foot collide with Mateta’s head. The severity of the injury was clear as medics hurried onto the field and subsequently took Mateta for treatment.

Despite the incident, Mateta reassured fans from the hospital saying he was ‘doing well’, after receiving 25 stitches for a severe laceration.

The incident garnered further talk when Palace chairman Steve Parish described it as the ‘worst challenge he’s ever seen’, in a fiery mid-game interview broadcast by the BBC. Palace manager Oliver Glasner was measured but pointed in his comments post-match, stating: “I don’t want to blame him, but it is a terrible foul.”

According to The Mail, Millwall’s manager Alex Neil and chairman James Berylson both checked in on Mateta’s condition following their team’s defeat. Sources also indicated that Roberts had made contact with Mateta, who left the hospital on Saturday evening.

After the scary incident, Palace issued a statement that read: “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 ear. 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. Thank you to the medical staff at both Selhurst Park and the hospital for their help and professionalism, and for all the wishes of support that JP and the club have received today.”

After the final whistle, Glasner shared a rough timeline over Mateta’s return: “I think he will definitely miss the Ipswich game, but I still hope that he’s available for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the end of March, so four weeks’ time. Of course, we all wish him the best.”

This article originally appeared on the Mirror.