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 needed 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 sector earlier than being taken to hospital.
Roberts, 30, contacted Mateta that night to apologise earlier than being targeted by social media abuse.
In an interview with Sky Sports,, external 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 nervous.”
Roberts’ ban has been extended from three games to six however Mateta doesn’t consider there was malicious intent within the problem and known as the social media abuse “loopy”.
“I do not suppose he wakened and thought ‘I need to reduce the pinnacle off JP’,” Mateta added.
“There’s plenty of strain. 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 said he hoped his team’s top scorer would be fit for his or her FA Cup quarter-final in opposition to Fulham on 29 March.
Requested when he would be capable of 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 have to put on a masks, I have to put on one thing,” he stated. “I’ll take the very best one that’s most snug.”
