Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has defended Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts, saying that "too much emotion makes you do crazy things".
Mateta needed 25 stitches to his left ear after being kicked in the head by Roberts during Palace's FA Cup win on 1 March.
Roberts was sent off, while the French striker, 27, was stretchered off the field before being taken to hospital.
Roberts, 30, contacted Mateta that evening to apologise before being targeted by social media abuse.
In an interview with Sky Sports,, external Mateta said: "Liam texted me while I was in hospital and I told him 'it is OK, it is football'.