Arsenal’s Declan Rice saw red during the clash with Brighton on Saturday, receiving his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card. However, the decision sparked controversy among some supporters who felt the referee erred.
Rice’s dismissal came after a tussle with Brighton’s Joel Veltman following a foul for which he was already cautioned in the first half. As Veltman went to take the free-kick, Rice was accused of delaying the restart by nudging the ball away, leading to his sending off despite Veltman’s subsequent contact with him. Fans were incensed by the referee’s call, highlighting other incidents during the game that went unpunished or were not consistent with the rules.
Manager Mikel Arteta expressed disbelief at the inconsistency in officiating, stating that the decision baffled him, especially given the lack of action on previous incidents. Rice, facing a suspension for the next match, missed the north London derby due to the red card.
New footage from Arsenal’s ‘Access All Areas’ video shed a different light on the incident, with some interpreting Veltman’s actions as targeted towards Rice. In response, Rice apologized to his teammates and fans for his first-ever dismissal, acknowledging his mistake and vowing to learn from it.
Reflecting on the events, Rice explained that while the first-half challenge was a 50-50 situation, the second yellow card felt harsh, considering the limited impact of the offense. Despite the setback, he remained resolute in moving forward from the incident.
Television commentators and analysts have shared their perspectives on the controversial event. Mike Dean, a former Premier League referee, expressed on Sky Sports, “Regrettably for Declan, he has kicked the ball away, albeit not very far. However, prior to the season, players were explicitly instructed, ‘Kick the ball away, waste time, and you will receive a caution.’ Given that he was already carrying a yellow card, the referee had no option but to show him a red.”
In contrast, Micah Richards criticized the decision as “one of the most egregious calls I’ve witnessed.”