Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has defended Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts, saying that “an excessive amount of emotion makes you do loopy issues”.
Mateta wanted 25 stitches to his left ear after being kicked within the head by Roberts throughout Palace’s FA Cup win on 1 March.
Roberts was despatched off, whereas the French striker, 27, was stretchered off the sphere earlier than being taken to hospital.
Roberts, 30, contacted Mateta that night to apologise earlier than being focused by social media abuse.
In an interview with Sky Sports activities,, exterior Mateta stated: “Liam texted me whereas I used to be in hospital and I informed him ‘it’s OK, it’s soccer’. He apologised. He was frightened.”
Roberts’ ban has been prolonged from three video games to 6 however Mateta doesn’t consider there was malicious intent within the problem and referred to as the social media abuse “loopy”.
“I do not assume he wakened and thought ‘I wish to reduce the top off JP’,” Mateta added.
“There’s a whole lot of stress. He needed to do good, [but] an excessive amount of emotion makes you do loopy issues. It was only a mistake. You be taught from it.”
Mateta travelled with Palace for a coaching camp in Marbella final week and skilled individually.
Though Mateta missed Palace’s league win over Ipswich, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner stated he hoped his group’s prime scorer can be match for his or her FA Cup quarter-final towards Fulham on 29 March.
Requested when he would be capable to play once more, Mateta replied: “I do not know. I am nonetheless in contact with the specialists and the physician. Hopefully quickly. Hopefully I can play [against Fulham].”
And when he does return, the previous Mainz and Lyon striker stated he’ll put on a face masks whereas the stitches proceed to heal.
“I must put on a masks, I must put on one thing,” he stated. “I’ll take the very best one that’s most snug.”
