Gary Neville told to apologize after urging Liverpool players to 'whack' Gabriel Martinelli

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Gary Neville has been told to apologize after urging Liverpool players to 'whack' Gabriel Martinelli, with Piers Morgan wading into the controversy involving Conor Bradley

Gary Neville before the Premier League game between Burnley and Manchester United.(Image: Mike Morese/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Gary Neville didn't hold back when Liverpool defender Conor Bradley was pushed by Gabriel Martinelli during the Reds' game with Arsenal — but now Piers Morgan says he should apologize too.

With Bradley clearly injured and about to be stretchered off, Martinelli appeared to believe that the Liverpool man was trying to run the clock down. He gave the full-back a shove, which did not go down well with Bradley's teammates, and it remains to be seen how long the Reds ace will be absent for.

"You can’t push him off the pitch. You cannot do that, you idiot," Neville said on Sky Sports commentary. "That’s so poor. I’m surprised the Liverpool players haven’t gone over and had a right pop at him.

"I think an apology is needed. He’s stretchered off, Conor Bradley, and it’s a sad sight. Someone who’s had injuries, he’s got his hands over his face.

"I’m actually fuming with Martinelli. Honestly, I don’t know how the Liverpool players didn’t go over and absolutely whack him. Take a red card, absolutely disgraceful that."

A few hours after the game, Martinelli confirmed that he had been in contact with Bradley to express his regret at the incident and wish him well with his recovery.

Gabriel Martinelli reacts as Conor Bradley lies injured during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on January 08, 2026(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

"Conor and I have messaged and I've already apologized to him," Martinelli announced in an Instagram story. "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."

"Now that Martinelli has apologised, it might be nice if you did too @GNev2," Morgan posted on X. "I don’t think commentators should be urging players to punch each other."

Martinelli has been roundly criticized for the incident. Virgil van Dijk said it wasn't a good look for the Brazilian.

"What he did was wrong," former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch told Paddy Power. "He just can’t have known he was badly injured. Everyone else could see the minute he went down, you knew it was a bad one.

"Moving [Bradley] off, he could’ve put him out for longer. Obviously terrible, I didn’t like to see it, and I’m glad he’s apologized, but I hope that’s the end of it now.

"I think he just assumed Bradley was play-acting. It did leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth and wasn’t a good thing to do to a lad who’s already been out seriously injured previously. That’s not what we do as professionals."