Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish expressed his anger at Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts after his 'reckless challenge' on Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Roberts was shown a straight red card from referee Michael Oliver, albeit only after a VAR review, only eight minutes in the FA Cup match on Saturday in Selhurst Park after a powerful striking Mateta in the head.
The 30-year-old may have focused on the ball, but both feet were far from the ground while his left shoe was connected to Mateta's skull.
After he had been replaced, Mateta was taken to a nearby hospital.
Parish later spoke with BBC Sport during the half -time interval to offer an update.
“Until now we know that he has a bad cut behind his ear and a main injury,” said Parish. 'Of course he is in the hospital, so we hope best.
'There is a lot of emotion in football, but we have to talk about that challenge. In all the time I watched football, I have never seen a challenge. I looked to see how old the keeper is, he is 30 years old. That is the most reckless challenge on a football field that I think I have ever seen and he has to look at himself for a long time because he jeopardizes a colleague professional – and perhaps even his life with such a challenge.
“So it's very difficult for me to talk about the rest of the game because we are worried about JP and it's just a terrible, terrible challenge.”
Palace led 2-1 during the break. When asked if he was impressed how Mateta's Palace teammates gathered and responded positively after the shocking injury, Parish added: 'They are professionals, they are all professionals and they must treat each other as professionals and have a duty of care towards their fellow professionals. And that keeper has not had one.
'And the honor of the players for continuing, but it is difficult for me to think of something else at the moment, with JP in the hospital.
“It's a terrible challenge and why the referee should go to the screen, I have no idea.”
When the interviewer tried to change the subject, Parish hit back: 'He is a human, let's forget a football player.
“That's just not a challenge. If you kick someone in the head with full power, God knows what damage he has caused him.
“Yes, it's a good time for us as a football club now, but it's very difficult for me to pass that challenge.”
Palace then beat 10-man Millwall 3-1 and booked their place in the FA Cup Quarterfinals for the third time in 10 years.
A Japhet Tanganga -own goal opened the score 33 minutes before Daniel Munoz doubled the lead of the Eagles.
Wes Harding withdrew a goal for Millwall in the 13th minute of the first half added time.
But replace Eddie Nketiah, the man who replaced Mateta after his injury and then took the victory of the palace abandoned in the second half.
Mateta is in a fantastic form for Palace this season.
Prior to Saturday, he had scored eight goals in his last nine games.
The 27-year-old also offered a stunning assist in a 2-0 win in Fulham last month.
Mateta cost Palace a transfer costs in the £ 27 million region when he signed from Mainz in January 2022 after a first loan in Selhurst Park.
His palace contract was extended at the end of last year and he is now bound to the club until June 2027.
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