The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel has delivered its verdict on referee Chris Kavanagh’s controversial decision to send Declan Rice off during Arsenal’s draw with Brighton.
Kai Havertz had given the Gunners the lead, but the game took a dramatic turn when Rice was booked for a rash challenge on Joel Veltman just before the end of the first half.
Minutes into the second half, the England international found himself in trouble again for nudging the ball away from Veltman as the Brighton defender attempted to take a quick free-kick.
Despite protests from the Arsenal camp, Kavanagh showed Rice a second yellow card and subsequently sent him off.
Controversy surrounded the decision, as Arsenal players and fans pointed out a similar incident involving Joao Pedro earlier in the match that went unpunished.
Brighton capitalized on the advantage, with Pedro leveling the score soon after Arsenal were reduced to 10 men.
Following a thorough review, the panel unanimously supported Kavanagh’s decision, affirming the referee’s call to send Rice off – marking the first red card of the midfielder’s career.
“Rice knows what he’s doing – it’s a gentle touch, but once the referee sees it he has no choice,” the KMI’s panel wrote.
The decision to suspend Declan Rice has been upheld, meaning the midfielder will be unavailable as Arsenal aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the season against Tottenham on Sunday.
Following Rice’s red card, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his frustration, stating he was “amazed” by the inconsistency in referee Chris Kavanagh’s decisions during the match.
“I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be,” he said.
“In the first half, there are two incidents and nothing happens.
“Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan (on the back of his leg), he turns around, he doesn’t see the player coming and he touches the ball.
“By law, he can make that call, but then by law he needs to make the next call, which is red card so we play 10 vs 10. This is what amazed me.
“At this level it’s amazing.
“Anyway I repeat myself – by law if you want to do it you have to do it, but you have to do it in the first half and play 10 against 10.
“That’s it. Very simple.”
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