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Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has defended Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts, saying that “too much emotion makes you do crazy things”. <\/b><\/p>\n
Mateta needed 25 stitches to his left ear<\/a> after being kicked in the head by Roberts during Palace’s FA Cup win on 1 March.<\/p>\n Roberts was sent off, while the French striker, 27, was stretchered off the field before being taken to hospital.<\/p>\n Roberts, 30, contacted Mateta that evening to apologise before being targeted by social media abuse.<\/a><\/p>\n In an interview with Sky Sports,, external<\/span><\/a> Mateta said: “Liam texted me while I was in hospital and I told him ‘it is OK, it is football’. He apologised. He was worried.”<\/p>\n Roberts’ ban has been extended from three games to six<\/a> but Mateta does not believe there was malicious intent in the challenge and called the social media abuse “crazy”.<\/p>\n “I don’t think he woke up and thought ‘I want to cut the head off JP’,” Mateta added.<\/p>\n “There is a lot of pressure. He wanted to do good, [but] too much emotion makes you do crazy things. It was just a mistake. You learn from it.”<\/p>\n Mateta travelled with Palace for a training camp in Marbella last week and trained individually.<\/p>\n Although Mateta missed Palace’s league win over Ipswich, Eagles boss Oliver Glasner said he hoped his team’s top scorer would be fit<\/a> for their FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham on 29 March.<\/p>\n Asked when he would be able to play again, Mateta replied: “I don’t know. I’m still in touch with the specialists and the doctor. Hopefully soon. Hopefully I can play [against Fulham].”<\/p>\n And when he does return, the former Mainz and Lyon striker said he will wear a face mask while the stitches continue to heal.<\/p>\n “I need to wear a mask, I need to wear something,” he said. “I will take the best one that is most comfortable.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n