“Brighton’s O’Riley Injured in Controversial Tackle: Crawley Manager Offers Apologies and Clarification”
The Reds manager mentioned that the 23-year-old player is genuinely distressed by the outcome of his tackle. Just six minutes into the Carabao Cup second-round match, Williams made a late challenge on O’Riley, Brighton’s recent signing from Celtic, resulting in O’Riley being carried off the field. It was later revealed that O’Riley requires ankle surgery. Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler, in a press conference before their game against Arsenal, described the injury as serious, noting the uncertainty of how long O’Riley would be sidelined. He emphasized the team’s support for him during recovery.
When asked post-match whether his team had been overly aggressive, Lindsey acknowledged that they might have been but stressed it wasn’t intentional and apologized if any players were hurt. Since the incident, fans on social media have criticized Williams and Crawley for their perceived rough play.
Almost 48 hours after the event, Lindsey shared his reflections, stating that the referee’s failure to address the tackle escalated the situation. He believed the incident warranted at least a yellow or red card, but emphasized that Williams’ challenge was a genuine attempt to win the ball, though mistimed. Lindsey insisted there was no malice in Williams’ actions, highlighting that Williams had shown concern for O’Riley immediately after the tackle.
Lindsey admitted that it was a poor challenge, but reiterated that it was not intentional. He also mentioned that he had spoken to Williams, who was very upset and eager to check on O’Riley’s condition. Lindsey praised Williams’ character, pointing out his efforts to apologize through the opposing team’s coaching staff. Finally, Lindsey expressed regret over the incident and stressed the importance of protecting Williams from the harsh criticism he has faced since then.