Gabriel Martinelli sparked anger after attempting to remove Conor Bradley off the pitch after the Liverpool defender went down injured
Dermot Gallagher says Gabriel Martinelli didn’t do enough to be shown a red card against Liverpool. The Arsenal forward sparked anger after trying to force Conor Bradley back onto the pitch after the defender picked up a suspected knee injury.
Martinelli was booked for his role in the incident before later apologising, while Ibrahima Konate picked up his fifth yellow card of the season for his reaction to the Brazilian’s actions. It was sparked after Bradley was left stricken on the ground when he looked to clear the danger in his own half.
The Northern Ireland international was unchallenged and landed awkwardly in an innocuous incident that has sparked new injury worries for Liverpool. Bradley was stretchered off the field and left North London with his knee in a brace and on crutches, with head coach Arne Slot fearing the worst.
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However, the former Premier League referee doesn’t believe there will be any retrospective action or bans for the Arsenal forward.
He said: “If the players leave it alone, it’s easier for the referee to deal with Martinelli. Once everyone else gets involved, it ramps up everything else.
“I think what Martinelli does gets diluted and in many ways, they have helped him stay on the field.”
“I think not. He’s been given a yellow card for his actions. If the players leave it to the referee, he’s got a different landscape to deal with. When they all pile in, he’s got to check everybody else.
“I think there’s not quite enough there (for it to be a red card).”
The incident sparked a melee between the two sets of players with Konate and Alexis Mac Allister involved in an angry exchange. Reacting to the incident, Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both angered by the manner of Martinelli’s actions.
Jay Bothroyd was speaking alongside Gallagher on Sky Sports’ ref watch. The former Cardiff City striker has dismissed Martinelli’s apology as he believes the result is irrelevant when a fellow professional is stricken on the pitch awaiting a stretcher.
He said: “Conor’s obviously got a serious injury. Everyone can see that. These are the types of things that happen in a game where if I’m Conor Bradley, as much as he has come out and said sorry, I won’t be forgetting that the next time we face each other.
“It’s irrelevant if it’s obvious or not. Yes, they are trying to win the game, I understand that. You don’t put your hands on anyone on the football pitch.
You don’t throw the ball at people or nudge them in the back. It’s not okay to come out after and say ‘I’m sorry.’ In that moment, he was trying to react.”
