Liverpool defender Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the rest of the season following the knee injury he sustained in the controversial clash with Gabriel Martinelli during Liverpool’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal midweek.
The incident occurred in injury time at the Emirates Stadium when Bradley, after clearing the ball into touch, collapsed in pain. Liverpool have confirmed that the injury is serious enough to require surgery, meaning he will miss the remainder of the season. Bradley was stretchered off and left the stadium on crutches. The full recovery timeline will become clearer after his operation in the coming days. As a result, the Northern Irishman will miss Northern Ireland’s 2026 World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy in March, and potentially the final if they advance.
The incident sparked major controversy, with Martinelli heavily criticized for attempting to pull Bradley off the pitch while he was clearly in distress. Martinelli received a yellow card for his actions, which also led to a scuffle on the field. Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville condemned Martinelli, saying: “You can’t push him off the pitch! That is so poor. I think an apology is needed. Honestly, I don’t know how the Liverpool players didn’t react.”
The FA confirmed no further action will be taken against Martinelli beyond the yellow card. The Brazilian forward later issued an apology on social media, stating: “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.”
Although the injury is not believed to involve the anterior cruciate ligament, Bradley is expected to be sidelined for at least six months. His availability for the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico will depend on Northern Ireland advancing through their March play-off matches.
