World Cup playoff fears for stricken Bradley as Martinelli 'deeply sorry' amid outrage
Players react to Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli after he moved Liverpool's Conor Bradley (not pictured) off the pitch during the Premier League match at Emirates Stadium, London. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire.
Fears are growing that Conor Bradley will miss Northern Ireland’s World Cup playoff against Italy in March after being stretchered off in Liverpool’s goalless draw at Arsenal on Thursday night.
Gabriel Martinelli sparked a melee in stoppage time at the Emirates after throwing a ball at, and pushing, the Tyrone native over the sideline while he was holding his knee after suffering an injury.
Brazilian Martinelli was booked along with Ibrahima Konate, one of several Liverpool players to react furiously, while Bradley was eventually carried off, visually distressed with his hands covering his face.
“It doesn’t look great if he has the injury which we fear he might have, of course,” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot, referring to concerns about a serious knee injury that could sideline the 22-year-old for months.
“I don’t know yet but it doesn't look great if you have to go off on a stretcher.
“When we see the video, we both think probably the same but we must wait on the scans if it’s that bad. Or maybe he can play on Monday (against Barnsley) – let’s hope so.”
Bradley is a vital component of Michael O’Neill’s team seeking a first World Cup qualification since 1986.
He was handed the captaincy in 2024 at the age of just 21 and influential in pushing Germany and Slovakia during a group campaign where they finished third.
Their playoff spot was already secured by winning their Nations League C pool.
They travel to take on the Italians at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26.
Should O’Neill’s side, ranked 69 in the world, topple the nation placed 12th in Fifa’s standings in the semi-final, they will face another trip, to either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, three days later to decide which team travels to North America for the summer tournament.
Meanwhile, Roy Keane branded Martinelli a 'disgrace” for his actions, urging the Gunners to apologise to the full-back.
"I didn't like it at all," the Sky Sports pundit from Cork said . "We know football and players' reactions. First of all, throwing the ball on him, standing over him and then he's got a little knee in him, he's trying to force him off.
"I'm surprised the Liverpool players didn't react to Martinelli a bit more. I think Martinelli, with that behaviour, is an absolute disgrace. Not good scenes. Hopefully Martinelli will have a look at it and hopefully apologise for it."
Martinelli did indeed soon issue an apology, posting a story on his Instagram account, writing: “Conor and I have messaged and I have already apologised to him.
“I really didn’t understand he was seriously injured in the heat of the moment.
“I want to say I’m deeply sorry for reacting.
“Sending Conor all my best again for a quick recovery.”
Prior to Martinelli’s social media post, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his player.
Speaking in his post-match news conference, Arteta said: “Knowing Gabi, he’s an incredible, lovely guy, and he probably didn’t realise what happened.
“I hope that Conor is well, I will have a word with him to understand that. Probably (Martinelli) didn’t recognise what happened.”
Slot also provided some perspective in his post-match assessment: “I don’t know Gabriel Martinelli but he comes across as a nice guy.
“The problem for him, and it’s a problem in general in football, is that there is so much time-wasting in the final parts of games that sometimes you can be annoyed when you want to score a goal and you feel a player is pretending to be injured.
“I’m 100 % sure if he knew what the injury might be, he wouldn’t do that.”
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