The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel have issued their verdict on referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to send Declan Rice off in Arsenal’s draw with Brighton.
After Kai Havertz gave the Gunners the lead Rice was booked for a rash challenge on Joel Veltman at the end of the first half.
Just minutes after the restart the England international again found himself in hot water for nudging the ball away from Veltman as he attempted to take a quick free-kick.
Kavanagh controversially gave Rice his marching orders, despite claims that a similar incident involving Joao Pedro had gone unpunished earlier in the game.
Brighton would seize control of the action shortly after Arsenal were reduced to 10 men, with Pedro drawing the visitors level.
A Premier League panel has made their final verdict on Declan Rice’s sending off against Brighton
25-year-old was shown a second yellow card for nudging the ball away from Joel Veltman
Following a review of the incident, the body has unanimously backed Kavanagh’s decision to send Rice off for the first time in his 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 original decision being upheld means Rice will be suspended as Arteta’s side look to continue their unbeaten start to the campaign when they face Spurs on Sunday.
Speaking following the sending off the Arsenal boss insisted he was ‘amazed’ at the inconsistency in Kavanagh’s decisions on the day.
‘I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be. 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.
Mikel Arteta will now be without his £105m midfielder for Sunday’s north London derby
‘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.’
