It was while Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was being transferred to the stretcher after enduring his karate-kicked assault from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts that the away supporters started singing a song so shamelessly sadistic, you had to do a double take.
‘Let him die, let him die, let him die,’ it went. As if the challenge itself was not grotesque enough – comparable to West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher crashing into France’s Patrick Battiston in the 1982 World Cup semi-finals – the chant only deepened the deplorability.
It came not only from a few fans who had managed to find a boozer willing to sell them the hard stuff early on Saturday morning. It was loud. It was brazen. It was discernible not only inside of Selhurst Park but to those watching at home on television, as the BBC’s Jonathan Pearce said on commentary: ‘Millwall fans are not endearing themselves to anyone with their chanting about Mateta. The football club could be revisited about that.’
The Football Association have confirmed to Mail Sport that, while they condemn such offensive chanting, it does not constitute of a breach according to their rulebook.
The ‘Chelsea rent boy’ songs aimed at Ben Chilwell might, however, and Championship Millwall will be investigated for that.
Palace chairman Steve Parish was strong on what he considered one of the worst challenges ever seen, saying of Roberts: ‘He needs to have a long hard look at himself, that lad. He’s endangering a fellow professionals and maybe his life.’
Crystal Palace booked their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals by beating 10-man Millwall
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off in the early stages for a dangerous challenge
When trying to clear, Roberts’ studs were high and he caught Jean-Philippe Mateta in the head
Separated by only six miles, proof of the increased potential for trouble came as you passed the Sainsbury’s petrol station next door to Selhurst Park. There were rows of police vans and riot officers on patrol in case anyone dared try something stupid before this 12.15pm kick-off.
There were five minutes on the clock when Millwall’s goalkeeper indulged in his mindlessness as Mateta ran to meet a ball which had been played over the top by Will Hughes.
Collateral damage be damned, Roberts sprinted out of his box determined to win the ball. He did so, but the followthrough saw him boot Mateta in the head at startling speed.
Referee Michael Oliver missed it as an immediate red in real time. For once, we can be thankful that VAR is in operation. This was a kung-fu kick which naturally brought back memories of Eric Cantona at this very stadium in 1995 and only right that, while the medical experts saw to Mateta, Oliver dismissed Roberts via a visit to his pitch-side monitor.
At the Peninsula Hotel in London on Thursday, Parish was holding court with a group of listeners which included Mail Sport at the FT Business of Football Summit. He discussed how a 1-0 lead is the worst feeling in football. Really, this was worse, as we all awaited news on Mateta, who was carried away to hospital for further treatment.
The original foul had occurred after five minutes and 18 seconds. The game restarted after 15 minutes and 35, though for some fans, the football felt slightly secondary now.
Eddie Nketiah replaced Mateta and within seconds, he was celebrating making it 1-0, only for Oliver to disallow the goal for a handball in the build-up. This one was called right in real time.
With their man advantage, Palace created chances, Eberechi Eze among those going close. When Millwall’s Camel Neghli went down with an ankle injury, Palace fans sang in riposte: ‘Let him die.’
Mateta received nine minutes of treatment before he was subsequently taken off on a stretcher
Mateta was taken to hospital as Palace fans sung his name on his way off the pitch
An own goal by Japhet Tanganga, left, saw Crystal Palace take a 33rd minute lead
Chilwell was starting for the first time since joining on loan from Chelsea and he would have scored, only for substitute goalkeeper Lukas Jensen to deny him after he had broken behind.
In the 33rd minute, Palace took the lead when Hughes crossed and Millwall’s Japhet Tanganga headed the ball into his own goal. It became 2-0 after 40 minutes when Daniel Munoz capitalised on a ricochet as Billy Mitchell tried and failed to clear.
It was originally disallowed for offside, but once the officials realised Palace were not involved in the build-up, it was given.
Amid 13 minutes added time after the Mateta treatment, Millwall made it 2-1, Wes Harding squeezing the ball through a crowd of six Palace players including goalkeeper Matt Turner. A deflection off Chilwell helped as the visitors lived in hope of a second-half comeback.
Palace signed Romain Esse from Millwall for £14.5million in January, and the 19-year-old scored with his first touch as a Premier League footballer a handful of weeks back. In the 65th minute, he was brought off the bench.
Daniel Munoz doubled the hosts lead from close ranger after chaotic Millwall defending
Wes Harding pulled a goal back for Millwall deep into added time at the end of the first half
Eddie Nketiah’s looping header made sure of Crystal Palace’s place in the quarter-finals
In the 82nd, Nketiah confirmed Palace’s passage to the FA Cup’s quarter finals as his header looped over Jensen and went in off the post.
At full-time, Esse walked over to the Millwall fans to applaud them. On his way back to the tunnel, he stopped to likewise thank Palace’s supporters, this time patting the badge on his chest. ‘Boom Boom Boom Boom’ by the Vengaboys began to play – Mateta’s song.
Palace won this FA Cup clash, but it was hard to leave Selhurst Park discussing anything other than the abysmal challenge from Roberts and equally embarrassing chanting that followed.
