Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was seething after a brutal challenge forced new signing Matt O’Riley to leave his debut match after just nine minutes on Tuesday.
O’Riley, who recently joined from Celtic in a big-money move, was given a chance to shine in the Carabao Cup game against Crawley Town. However, his first match in a Seagulls jersey was cut short when Crawley’s Jay Williams delivered a harsh tackle that left the Denmark international unable to continue.
Despite Hurzeler’s protests, Williams escaped punishment for the challenge, leaving the manager frustrated and the game in disarray.
Following the match, Hurzeler criticized Williams for what he deemed a ‘ridiculous foul’, calling it unacceptable behavior. He expressed concern for O’Riley’s injury and emphasized the impact it had on the game.
Crawley manager Scott Lindsey later issued an apology for his team’s aggressive play, acknowledging the missed call by the referee.
Despite the setback, Brighton emerged victorious with a 4-0 win, courtesy of goals from Adingra, Sarmiento, Webster, and O’Mahony.
O’Riley, 23, will be eager to recover quickly from his ankle injury and make his Premier League debut in the near future.
