Palace progressed to the quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory, but the match was undoubtedly marred by the injury to the prolific France striker.

With just eight minutes gone at Selhurst Park, Millwall goalkeeper Roberts was shown a red card after a video assistant referee (VAR) review for a wildly reckless challenge on Mateta, who was subsequently taken to hospital.

Roberts rushed outside the 18-yard box and leaped to clear a long ball, but his high left-footed follow-through struck Mateta in the side of the face.

The Palace striker remained on the ground for several minutes and needed lengthy medical treatment, before he was carried off the field toward an ambulance.

Parish confirmed at half-time that Mateta had sustained a gash behind his ear and was at a local hospital receiving further treatment for the injury.

But the Eagles chairman could not hide his anger at the challenge from Roberts, which he felt was similar to the notorious one inflicted by West Germany goalkeeper Harald Schumacher on France's Patrick Battiston during the 1982 FIFA World Cup semi-final.

"They're professionals, and they have to treat each other like professionals and have a duty of care for your fellow professionals," Parish said at half-time. 

"That keeper has not had one [duty of care]. Credit to the players for carrying on, and it is difficult for me to think about anything else with JP [Mateta] in hospital.

"In all the time I've watched football, someone mentioned there was one like it in the World Cup in 1982. Why the referee needed to go to the screen, I have no idea.

"He's a human being, forget he's a football player - it is not a normal challenge. We want to progress [in the FA Cup], but it is difficult for me to look past that challenge."

Mateta's potential absence could be a significant setback for Palace, with the forward netting four times in his past four Premier League outings, bringing his season tally to 12 goals.

Palace took the lead after 33 minutes when Japhet Tanganga diverted Will Hughes's cross into his own net.

Daniel Munoz doubled the advantage soon after, but Wes Harding halved Millwall's deficit in the 13th minute of first-half stoppage-time.

The Lions were aiming to reach their first quarter-final in the competition for six years.

However, Eddie Nketiah struck eight minutes from time to secure an eighth win in 10 matches for the host, which has now progressed from 10 of its past 11 FA Cup ties against sides from a lower division.

Palace has now also reached the final eight of the competition in three of the past seven seasons, as many times as in the previous 36 campaigns.

Elsewhere, Preston North End progressed to the quarter-finals for the first time in 59 years after a 3-0 victory over local rival Burnley.

The Clarets entered the tie off the back of nine successive clean sheets, but conceded in the 31st minute when Robbie Brady curled home a brilliant 25-yard free-kick.

Milutin Osmaji doubled the lead just before half-time when he latched onto Brad Potts's throughball before drilling past Vaclav Hladky.

Freddie Woodman made a brilliant save to prevent Zian Flemming from halving the deficit, before Will Keane put the tie beyond doubt 17 minutes from time.