Millwall to escape FA rap for vile 'let him die' chant to Jean-Philippe Mateta

Millwall are set to be let off the hook over their supporters chanting "let him die" to Jean-Philippe Mateta after his horror injury in their FA Cup clash with Crystal Palace.

Mateta was seriously hurt in the eighth minute of the cup game at Selhurst Park after being hit with a flying kick to the head from Millwall keeper Liam Roberts, who was sent off for the horrific challenge.

The Crystal Palace forward received treatment on the pitch for a lengthy period before being stretchered off and taken to hospital after suffering a gash behind the ear in addition to a head injury.

While Mateta was being treated, he was subject to sickening chants from a section of Millwall fans, who targeted the player by mocking what appeared to be a serious injury.

Millwall are not set to be punished by the FA because chants of that nature do not breach their protocols, but the Championship side could be penalised for directing homophobic language towards Palace defender Ben Chilwell.

The FA have started an investigation into chants that labelled Chilwell as a "Chelsea rent boy" in an incident-hit clash that overshadowed the cup game.

The biggest talking point by far was Mateta's worrying head injury that saw Roberts earn huge criticism for his reckless kick, with Palace owner Steve Parish saying it was the worst challenge he had ever seen in football.

"There's a lot of emotion in football but we need to talk about that challenge," he said after the 3-1 win. "In all my time in football, I've never seen a challenge like it. I look to see how old is the keeper is, he's 30 years old.

"That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch that I think I've ever seen and he needs to have a long hard look at himself that lad because he's endangering a fellow professional - and maybe even his life with a challenge like that."

Palace boss Oliver Glasner was similarly scathing of Roberts, adding: "It was very, very serious foul play. Tough to see. I don’t want to see it anymore.

"Just imagine if it hits him straight in his face. I don’t think he wanted to injure him, but the decision to go for the ball was completely wrong."