Millwall hit with FA charge following fans’ vile chants during match where Jean-Philippe Mateta was left hospitalised following sickening head injury

Millwall have been charged by the FA following their fans’ behaviour during their FA Cup clash against Crystal Palace. 

The fifth round match was a feisty affair, with Palace winning 3-1 at Selhurst Park.

However, Millwall were reduced to 10-men just minutes into the match when striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was rushed to hospital having being left stricken following a horror karate kick to the head by Lions keeper Liam Roberts.

Mateta was eventually carried off the field on a stretcher after receiving oxygen following a nine-minute delay before he was taken to hospital, but the game continued to be marred by crowd trouble.

And on Thursday, the FA announced Millwall have been charged with misconduct and gave them until April 16 to respond.

A statement read: ‘Millwall FC has been charged with misconduct in relation to crowd control following the FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace FC on Saturday 1 March.

Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta was hospitalised in the clash after a sickening head injury

Mateta received nine minutes of treatment before he was subsequently taken to hospital 

‘It’s alleged that during the 5th and 20th minutes the club failed to ensure its spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and don’t use words or behave in an improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting way with either express or implied reference to sexual orientation.

‘MIllwall FC has until Wednesday 16 April to respond.’

The statement referenced incidents in the 5th and 20th minute, with Mateta’s collision with Roberts, who was subsequently banned for six-games, coming in the sixth minute.

In the aftermath of that, Millwall supporters were heard shouting ‘let him die’ towards the Frenchman however the FA were unable to investigate these chants as it does not breach regulations. 

A fuming Palace chairman Steve Parish also appeared on the BBC’s coverage of the game at half-time where he described the incident as ‘the most reckless challenge on a football pitch that I think I’ve ever seen’.

However, Palace left back Ben Chilwell, who is currently on loan from Chelsea, was subjected to homophobic abuse during the clash. 

Cries of ‘Chelsea rent boy’ were aimed at the 28-year-old as he completed his first full 90 minutes since moving to Palace in the winter transfer window.

Mail Sport reported at the time that the FA were set to investigate the chants aimed at Chilwell.

Palace defender and Chelsea loanee Ben Chilwell was subjected to homophobic abuse 

The FA announced the charge on Thursday and gave Millwall until April 16 to respond

Later in the heated clash, a Millwall fan was seen attempting to take on an entire Crystal Palace stand by himself, while a song was also heard referencing Mateta’s trip to hospital.

The Daily Mail was banned from attending Millwall matches and press conferences, as a result of the outlet’s reporting surrounding the Mateta-Roberts incident.

It was after requesting to speak to Roberts that the Mail learned of the ban.

Mateta received 25 stitches in the aftermath of the challenge and subsequently paid tribute to a plastic surgeon who ‘had to save his ear’.

Meanwhile, following Roberts’ early red card, a Japhet Tanganga own goal had opened the scoring for Palace on 33 minutes before Daniel Munoz doubled the Eagles’ lead.

Wes Harding pulled a goal back for Millwall in the 13th-minute of first-half added time.

But substitute Eddie Nketiah, the man who replaced Mateta following his injury, then wrapped up Palace’s victory late in the second half, with Oliver Glasner’s side subsequently beating Fulham 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the competition.

During the clash against the Cottagers, Mateta made his return to action, which came just three weeks after he suffered his injury.  

The Eagles are now set to take on Aston Villa at Wembley in the semi-finals on Saturday, April 26.