Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off just minutes into their FA Cup clash against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The two teams were taking on each other in the FA Cup fifth round tie, with the Championship side hoping to cause an upset.
However, disaster struck within six minutes as Roberts attempted to clear a dangerous through ball from Will Hughes.
After connecting with the ball, the Millwall stopper kicked Jean Philippe-Mateta in the head in his follow through, leaving the Palace striker strewn across the floor.
However, Michael Oliver failed to give even a free kick to start with before VAR recommended he take an on-field review.
After considering his decision, the official subsequently sent Roberts off, while Mateta was left on the floor for nine minutes as he received treatment following the horror challenge.
Millwall keeper Liam Roberts was sent off minutes into their FA Cup clash with Crystal Palace
As he tried to clear a through ball, Roberts’ studs were high and he caught Mateta in the head
Michael Oliver initially didn’t give a foul or card, but after a VAR review, he sent Roberts off
Roberts’ studs had caught Mateta in the head and Oliver announced the decision over the stadium tannoy.
Mateta was eventually taken off the field on a stretcher, but not before Millwall fans could be heard chanting ‘let him die’.
Mateta was receiving oxygen as he went off the pitch as he was taken to a corner of the ground where an ambulance was waiting to drive him to hospital.
Eddie Nketiah came on in Mateta’s place as a concussion substitute, while Millwall keeper Lukas Jensen entered the fray, with midfielder Luke Cundle sacrificed following the red card for Roberts – who had shone in his side’s victory over Leeds in the fourth round.
As Mateta was carried off, Palace fans could be heard singing the in-form French striker’s name, while chairman and co-owner Steve Parish looked concerned in the crowd.
In the initial incident which came following a fast start to the game in a fiery atmosphere, Hughes’ through ball had caused problems for Millwall’s defence.
While Roberts’ eyes were only on the ball and he did get to the ball first, his foot was extremely high.
Mateta received nine minutes of treatment before he was subsequently taken off on a stretcher
Roberts was taken to hospital as Palace fans sung his name on his way off the pitch
As he connected with the ball, it deflected off Mateta and Daniel Munoz attempted to score as it bounced away, but his lobbed effort was cleared off the line.
Oliver then brought the game to a halt as Mateta, who has scored eight goals in his past eight Premier League games, received treatment.
The early dismissal was a big setback for Millwall and Palace soon made their man advantage pay off when Japhet Tanganga deflected a Hughes effort into his own net.
Munoz then made it 2-0 shortly afterwards as Oliver Glasner’s side, who were pretty much at full strength, put their opponents under significant pressure.
However, Millwall pulled a goal back just before the break in the 13th minute of added time as Wes Harding finsihed superbly following good work from Femi Azeez.
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