MASSIVE CONTROVERSY! Declan Rice’s SHOCKING Red Card Explained, and There’s Only ONE PERSON to BLAME!
After being shown a red card against Brighton and Hove Albion, Arsenal’s Declan Rice tried to argue his case, but ultimately, he had no one to blame but himself.
The Gunners were already frustrated with referee Chris Kavanagh ahead of their match against Tottenham Hotspur, as Rice’s dismissal meant the midfielder would miss the crucial North London Derby. Rice was sent off for a second yellow card after delaying a restart, leaving Arsenal fans furious. Post-match, manager Mikel Arteta expressed his disbelief: “I was amazed,” he said. “Decisions are so inconsistent.
There were two similar incidents in the first half, but nothing happened. Then in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan, and he turns around without seeing the player, touching the ball. If you follow the law, yes, you make the call, but you should also make the next call, which would mean both teams play 10 vs. 10. It’s unbelievable.”
Sky Sports later aired audio footage of the decision on their show ‘Match Officials Mic’d Up,’ revealing the conversation between the referees:
Referee: “Declan Rice kicked the ball away.”
Assistant Ref: “He’s on a second yellow.”
Referee: “I’ve got no choice.”
Assistant Ref: “It’s delaying the restart.”
VAR: “Watch this again, he’s trying to play the ball, not kicking it away. I’m okay with that.”
AVAR: “Agreed. It’s not violent conduct.”
Referee: “Dec, you’ve put me in a tough spot. You need to go.”
Though Arteta voiced his frustration at the decision, the reality is that Rice was responsible for the situation. Players are reminded of the rules at the start of the season, and Rice knew he was at risk of a second yellow. His decision to delay the game was poor judgment, and hopefully, he will learn to avoid making similar mistakes in the future.
