Mateta's OK which is what matters most. But football has lessons to learn.

A look at the weekend's action.

In terms of significance, the most important element to the horrific incident involving Jean-Philippe Mateta at Selhurst Park is that he is OK, that the scans were clear although he still required 25 stitches to his left ear. Next down the list of priorities is what punishment Millwall’s Liam Roberts should receive for endangering an opponent with such a high boot. Roberts, his manager Alex Neil and chairman James Berylson all checked on Mateta’s condition. As they should.

A stricken Jean-Philippe Mateta. Photo: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

It certainly wasn’t the worst challenge in football – Toni Schmacher’s on Patrick Battiston in the 1982 World Cup earns that dubious honour. But Roberts deserves an extended ban stretching beyond the minimum three-game punishment. Players cannot put their peers at risk like that.

Next in the fall-out comes scrutiny of Michael Oliver. He’s a good referee who’s made some mistakes this season. Why did Oliver not immediately stop the game? He initially waved play on. A high-speed collision like that was never going to lead to play-acting. Mateta was floored. There is rightly so much sensitivity around head injuries that games have to be stopped.

Oliver has also been criticised for failing to produce a red card. He might have been waiting for the VAR safety net to rule but a referee of his standing should have the courage of his own convictions. A challenge as bad as that shouldn’t require a trip to the monitor. It demands an instant red card. Whether Oliver is currently suffering a dip in confidence only he – and PGMOL – will know. But a good referee needs to rediscover his old assuredness swiftly. The game needs good, confident, decisive referees.

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To say Millwall fans have previous is an understatement. A few weeks ago, the club released a statement saying how “appalled” they were at those fans who shamed Millwall with tragedy chanting about the two Leeds United fans killed in Istanbul in 2000. It must deeply frustrate a club that does so much good work in the community that its reputation gets tarnished by some unpleasant followers. This weekend some Millwall followers chanted “let him die” as Mateta lay stricken on the pitch. Some Palace fans were heard to chant similar at Millwall’s Camiel Neghli when he was injured. They should know better.

The FA, guardians of the game, rightly condemned chants of “let him die” but are not punishing them. The FA also rightly condemned the “Chelsea rent boy” chants at Palace’s on-loan Ben Chilwell. And could take action. Quite right.

But the “let him die” chants were horrific and deserve sanction. If that’s not bringing the game into disrepute, then what is? In the updated Football Related Offences and Banning Orders (2023), the CPS talk about chants that “cause distress” and could also have a “serious impact on the reputation of English and Welsh football at home and overseas”. Chanting “let him die” at a badly wounded footballer surely causes distress to many present, not least any members of his family, and damages the reputation of football.

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Marco Asensio is more than a bringer of goals for Aston Villa, four in his last three games. He’s more than a composed carrier of the ball deep into enemy area. It’s the on-loan Spaniard’s attitude that also stands out. He’s deemed surplus to requirements at Paris St-Germain. But it can’t be anything to do with his application or professionalism. Standards were already high at Villa under Unai Emery. And Asensio’s commitment levels raise them even higher.

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Danny Welbeck scored his first goal in the FA Cup seven Prime Ministers ago, and seven England managers ago, including two caretakers. Lady Gaga was enjoying the No 1 success of her debut single, Just Dance. Edwin van der Sar and Gary Neville, both now in their 50s, played as Welbeck celebrated his FA Cup bow with a headed goal as Manchester United won 3-0 at Southampton on Jan 4, 2009. Two trophy triumphs with Arsenal later, Welbeck is still marching on Wembley, now with Brighton & Hove Albion. He’s a credit to his resilience in the face of frequent injury. He’s 34 and still a force.

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Will Jaaskelainen, the Bolton-born son of Jussi, enjoyed an eventful afternoon for Woking against Oxford City on Saturday. In the shootout, Jaaskelainen saved three penalties - in an incredible sequence of seven kicks missed - and then decided to show everyone how it was done. Jaaskelainen stepped up and smashed his penalty into the back of the net to take Woking into the semi-finals of the FA Trophy. Wembley could be 90 minutes away for Jaaskelainen Junior. His dad made one of the great Wembley saves – at the old stadium – somehow keeping out a Dion Dublin header in Bolton’s 2000 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Aston Villa.

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Talking of in-form offspring, Charlie Savage now has six goals and nine assists for Reading this season. It can’t be easy having a famous father in the same profession, especially one as high-profile as Robbie, but 21-year-old Charlie handles it well.

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There is already talk of Kevin De Bruyne receiving a 12-month contract extension at Manchester City. On Saturday’s performance against an obdurate Plymouth Argyle, the 33-year-old’s fitness was not in doubt nor his enduring passing range and vision. It was only against Championship strugglers but they still made life difficult. If City make any new deal heavily performance-related then it is surely a no-brainer. De Bruyne’s a great professional, has started on his coaching pathway, and has much to give off the pitch as well as on.

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Enjoy the week.