Outrage as Gabriel Martinelli Pushes Injured Conor Bradley: A Dark Moment in Football
The incident involving Gabriel Martinelli pushing injured Conor Bradley off the pitch during the Arsenal vs. Liverpool match has sparked outrage and condemnation. Former players and commentators have slammed Martinelli's actions as disgraceful. Here's a closer look at what transpired and the fallout from this unsportsmanlike conduct.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has come in for criticism after attempting to push Liverpool defender Conor Bradley off the pitch in the closing minutes of Thursday's Premier League draw with Liverpool at the Emirates. Martinelli tangled with Bradley after the 22-year-old went down and appeared to be in some distress. He was subsequently stretchered off the pitch and the fear is that he has sustained a serious injury.Arsenal missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table to eight points on Thursday night after being held to a goalless draw against Liverpool. There were some spiky moments during the match, with Virgil van Dijk and Declan Rice clashing in the first half, while Martinelli's frustrations boiled over in stoppage time. The Brazilian tried to push Bradley off the pitch as he lay injured and came in for heavy criticism from commentator Gary Neville. Bradley then had to be taken off on a stretcher and may now be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.Neville said on Sky Sports: "Oh you can't push him off the pitch. You cannot do that, you idiot. That's so poor. I'm surprised the Liverpool players haven't gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed. He's thrown the ball at him as well. Yeah, it's no good. Gonna be stretchered off Conor Bradley, and it's a sad sight. He's someone who has had injuries. I'm actually fuming with Martinelli. Honestly, I don't know how the Liverpool players didn't go over there and whack him, to be honest with you and take a red card. Absolutely disgraceful, that."Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane was also critical and told Martinelli to apologise for his actions. He said on Sky Sports: "I didn't like it. It's happened to me when I was badly injured and a player stood over me, and it's not good. First of all throwing the ball at him, and he puts a little knee in him to try force him off. I'm surprised the Liverpool players didn't react to Martinelli more. I think that behaviour is an absolute disgrace. Not good scenes. Hopefully Martinelli apologies for it."Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingLiverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai was asked about the incident after the game and shared his view. He told Sky Sports: "I see that Conor twisted his knee. I don't know what is going on with him. And obviously he didn't want to come back on the pitch for time-wasting or something. He was just in so much pain he couldn't even think where he rolled. And then you try to push him off the pitch. I understand that you want to win, we want to win as well, but I think the health of the player is much more important than anything else."Liverpool now face an anxious wait on Bradley to determine the severity of the injury and how much time he may miss. In the meantime, Arsenal and Liverpool will now switch focus away from the Premier League to the FA Cup. The Gunners are in action on Sunday away at Portsmouth, while Liverpool host Barnsley at Anfield on Monday night.
The Incident and Reactions
In the dying moments of the match between Arsenal and Liverpool, Gabriel Martinelli's frustration boiled over when he attempted to push Conor Bradley, who was lying injured on the pitch. This callous act drew sharp criticism from commentators and former players alike. Gary Neville and Roy Keane were particularly vocal, labeling Martinelli's behavior as disgraceful and calling for an apology.
Neville and Keane's Views
Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, expressed his disbelief at Martinelli's actions, emphasizing the need for an apology. Roy Keane echoed similar sentiments, condemning the Brazilian forward's behavior as unacceptable in the world of sportsmanship. Both pundits highlighted the severity of the incident and underlined the importance of showing respect and consideration for injured players.
Liverpool Player's Perspective
Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai weighed in on the incident, expressing concern for Conor Bradley's well-being. Szoboszlai emphasized the priority of player safety and health over the desire to win, acknowledging the distressing nature of the events that unfolded on the pitch.
Aftermath and Fallout
As Conor Bradley was stretchered off the pitch, the football community was left shocked by the callous act committed by Gabriel Martinelli. The severity of Bradley's injury remains to be seen, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of respect and fair play in football. Both clubs will now focus on their upcoming FA Cup fixtures, with the incident casting a shadow over an otherwise competitive game.
