Fans slam the BBC for allowing Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish's 'terrible' interview about Jean-Philippe Mateta tackle

Fans have slammed the BBC for allowing Crystal Palace chairman Steven Parish to give an interview during the break of their FA Cup clash against Millwall.

Palace led Millwall 2-1 at the interval of their FA Cup fifth round tie at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

Japhet Tanganga (OG) opened the scoring for the Premier League side before Daniel Munoz doubled his team's lead.

Wes Harding pulled one back in the 13th minute of first-time stoppage time.

13 minute were added onto the first-half following the nasty collision between Jean-Philippe Mateta and Liam Roberts, who was shown a red card following a VAR review.

Roberts kicked Mateta in the face when he was put through on goal.

BBC commentator Jonathan Pearce condemned Millwall's chant amid Mateta receiving medical attention.

At the break, Palace chairman Parish spoke to BBC's Kelly Somers as he provided an update on the French forward, stating he has suffered a 'gash' behind the ear having been transported to hospital.

In doing so, he also delivered a stinging assessment of Roberts' tackle, calling it the 'worse challenge' he has ever seen.

"We need to talk about that challenge... in all the time I've watched football, I've never seen a challenge like it," he told Somers. "That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I've ever seen."

"That is the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I think I've ever seen."

Crystal Palace chairman and co-owner Steve Parish has spoken about Millwall keeper Liam Roberts' challenge on Jean-Philippe Mateta. pic.twitter.com/gkcR9IMSEI

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 1, 2025

But Parish's half-time interview on the BBC was slammed by fans on social media as they criticised the segment.

One X user wrote: "Terrible editorial choice by the BBC to have a crying Steve Parish interviewed at half time."

A second tweeted: "The BBC have rolled out Steve Parish at half-time. Not sure that's the wisest idea. And how many Chairman get to moan about the opposition during the game."

A third added: "Steve Parish should not be being interviewed here."

A fourth tagged the BBC, exclaiming: "Someone explain to me why you deemed it okay for Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish to come live on TV and make claims that Roberts went out of his way to hurt Mateta! You lot need to fix up that was bang out of order to allow that to happen!"

SPORTbible has reached out to BBC for comment.