The Premier League has explained why Declan Rice was sent off during Arsenal’s match against Brighton.
Mikel Arteta’s team seemed on track to maintain their perfect start to the season, leading at halftime thanks to Kai Havertz’s second goal of the season.
However, the game changed early in the second half when Rice was sent off for the first time in his career.
After receiving a yellow card in the first half for a rough challenge on Joel Veltman, Rice was shown a second yellow just four minutes into the second half ….
Continue ReadingHe nudged the ball away from Veltman as the latter was about to take a free kick.
Although Rice made only slight contact with the ball, he was booked again for ‘delaying the restart,’ as reported by the Premier League match center.
This decision was particularly frustrating for Arsenal fans, as Rice’s suspension means he will miss the north London derby after the international break—a match where new signing Mikel Merino is also set to be absent.
Arsenal fans on social media were stunned by the incident, especially after referee Chris Kavanagh chose not to book Joao Pedro in the first half for a more blatant time-wasting act.
Former Arsenal player Ray Parlour called Rice’s red card a ‘joke’ and a ‘disgrace,’ while celebrity supporter Piers Morgan described it as ‘the worst red card decision in football history.’
show less
