Millwall fans sickeningly chant 'let him die' at Jean-Philippe Mateta after Crystal Palace star suffers horrendous head injury that required oxygen during FA Cup fifth-round tie

The French striker had to be stretchered off the field and required oxygen after he was kicked in the head by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts. After a VAR review, the 30-year-old was sent off for the challenge that left Mateta stricken on the floor, with the forward later being taken to hospital. Officials and police forces feared that the game between the rivals, who were meeting in the FA Cup fifth round, would bring controversy, with Millwall fans' disturbing chants of 'let him die' in thedirection of Mateta being widely condemned.

The incident, coming just six minutes into the game, was initially cleared by the referee Michael Oliver who did not even give a free-kick. Mateta had been put through by a Will Hughes through-ball and was beaten to the ball by Roberts. However, following a VAR review, Roberts' follow-through - which connected with the striker in the head - was correctly judged to be dangerous and the goalkeeper was sent off.

Reflecting on the incident, Crystal Palace chairman and co-owner Steve Parish told BBC Sport: "That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I've ever seen."

Fans on social media, meanwhile, condemned the selection of Millwall supporters that chanted towards Mateta as he was receiving medical treatment.

The Eagles will await nervously to find out how Mateta recovers from the nasty kick to the head. Shortly after the French striker was withdrawn, Palace took the lead through a Japhet Tanganga own-goal before Daniel Munoz doubled the advantage. Wes Harding then got one back for the away side before Eddie Nketiah, who came on for Mateta, sealed a 3-1 victory for Palace who now progress to the quarter-finals.