Austute ManMatt O’Riley’s Brighton debut ended in disaster as he limped off just nine minutes into the match against Crawley Town in the EFL Cup. The 23-year-old Danish international, who joined Brighton from Celtic for a record-breaking £30m, was carried off the pitch by two medical staff members after a heavy challenge from Crawley captain Jay Williams.
O’Riley had started the match in the starting lineup, but his debut was cut short due to the injury. Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was furious with the challenge and vented his frustration from the touchline.
Before the match, O’Riley had sent an emotional message to Celtic fans, thanking them for their support during his time at the club. He had said: “Thank you very much for everything. They made me feel welcome right from day one. It was quite tough to say goodbye and things happened really, really quickly as well so it was bit annoying I couldn’t get to say a real proper goodbye.”
The injury to O’Riley will come as a blow to Brighton, who had high hopes for the midfielder after his impressive performances for Celtic. The severity of the injury is yet to be confirmed, but O’Riley’s departure from the match was a worrying sign for the Seagulls.
In other news, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has slammed the “ridiculous” challenge that led to O’Riley’s injury, calling for greater protection for players from heavy tackles. The incident has sparked debate about player safety and the need for referees to take stronger action against dangerous challenges.
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