Chadi Riad devastated as he’s stretchered off following horror injury just a year after missing 430 DAYS with ACL tear

CHADI RIAD suffered another devastating injury blow after being stretchered off for Crystal Palace against Everton. The Eagles defender was left looking distraught after going down in the second half of their Premier League opener at Goodison Park, as Palace lost 2-0. Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad has suffered an ACL injury Credit: Getty Riad was stretchered off after suffering an injury during their opening-day Premier League match against Everton Riad appeared to suffer the problem while attempting to block a cross from Everton wing-back Vitaliy Mykolenko. The 23-year-old immediately went down and was seen clutching his left leg as Palace’s medical team rushed on to treat him. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! A stretcher was then brought onto the pitch before the Morocco international was carried off in worrying scenes. There has yet to be any official confirmation from Palace over the nature or severity of Riad’s latest setback. It comes after a nightmare spell with injuries during his first two seasons at Selhurst Park. Riad initially suffered a knee problem against Norwich in the Carabao Cup in August 2024 which kept him sidelined until December. But just weeks after returning, the centre-back suffered a cruciate ligament injury in training which forced him into another lengthy rehabilitation programme. Transfermarkt records Riad as missing a staggering 430 days across those two injury problems, including 326 days following the cruciate ligament tear. Most read in Football Riad was left devastated after sustaining another injury Credit: AFP Speaking about that brutal period earlier this year, Riad admitted it had been “mentally, very, very difficult” before revealing his joy at finally returning to action, saying: “I just felt like a football player again.” Riad had since fought his way back into the Palace side and was handed a start by new boss Pierre Sage against Everton, only for his afternoon to end in heartbreaking fashion with the Eagles losing 2-0 following goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry. Comment now