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Gabriel Martinelli punishment verdict after 'disgraceful' Conor Bradley incident

The Northern Ireland international was unmarked and fell awkwardly in what appeared a harmless moment that has raised fresh injury concerns for Liverpool.

Bradley was carried off on a stretcher and left North London wearing a knee brace and using crutches, with head coach Arne Slot fearing the worst outcome.

Nevertheless, the former Premier League official doesn't anticipate any retrospective sanctions or suspensions for the Arsenal attacker.

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 ignited a scuffle between the two teams, with Konate and Alexis Mac Allister embroiled in a heated exchange. Responding to the incident, Gary Neville and Roy Keane were both incensed by Martinelli's behaviour.

Jay Bothroyd was commenting alongside Gallagher on Sky Sports' ref watch. The ex-Cardiff City striker dismissed Martinelli's apology, arguing that the outcome is irrelevant when a fellow professional is lying injured on the pitch awaiting a stretcher.

He stated: "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."

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