Liverpool defender Conor Bradley appeared to sustain a serious injury before being shoved off the pitch by Gabriel Martinelli during Thursday's 0-0 draw at Arsenal
Gabriel Martinelli
Gabriel Martinelli will face no further action(Image: Getty Images)
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Gabriel Martinelli will escape disciplinary action for his shove on Conor Bradley which sparked a mass confrontation. The Arsenal winger pushed the Liverpool full-back off the pitch and threw the ball at him after he appeared to sustain a potentially serious injury in the dying moments of Thursday evening's goalless draw at the Emirates.
Martinelli has subsequently issued an apology and, according to the Standard, the Football Association will not be pursuing retrospective sanctions.
It is understood that the governing body felt that referee Anthony Taylor dealt with the situation appropriate manner. Retrospective action relating to in-game incidents is only considered by the FA when they believe that the referee or the VAR team has missed a key element.
As Taylor cautioned Martinelli such a scenario does not apply to the incident in question.
In a statement on social media, Martinelli wrote: "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."
The Brazilian's behaviour drew sharp criticism from pundits following the match, with Gary Neville particularly vocal in his disapproval. Whilst commentating, he remarked: "You cannot push him off the pitch, you cannot do that, you idiot.
"I am surprised one of the Liverpool players hasn't gone over and had a right pop at him. I think an apology is needed.
"I'm fuming with Martinelli, I don't know how a Liverpool player didn't go and whack him and take the red card. Absolutely disgraceful."
Fellow Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane added: "It's not good. First of all, throwing the ball at him, standing over him. He's got a bit of a knee in him, he's trying to force him off. I think that behaviour is an absolute disgrace.”
The extent of Bradley's apparent knee injury is not yet clear, but he is expected to have to endure a lengthy spell on the sidelines while the Northern Irishman recovers from this latest setback.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot will have shuffle his defence once more.
Summer signing Jeremie Frimpong is the likely placement for Bradley at right-back but Joe Gomez and Calvin Ramsay are two alternative options.
Both Gomez and Ramsay will be in contention for starts against Barnsley in the FA Cup Third Round tie at Anfield on Monday evening.