Ex-Referee Dermot Gallagher Backs Declan Rice Red Card Decision Amid Arsenal vs Brighton Controversy
Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has weighed in on the contentious red card shown to Arsenal’s Declan Rice during their match against Brighton.
Rice was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for delaying a restart by kicking the ball away following a foul on Brighton’s Joel Veltman. His first yellow card came from a late tackle on the same player.
Rice’s dismissal means he will miss Arsenal’s crucial North London Derby against Tottenham after the international break, which has sparked considerable debate, especially since Brighton’s Joao Pedro was not booked for a similar offense during the match.
Gallagher, speaking on Sky Sports’ “Ref Watch,” defended referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision, explaining that Rice’s actions left the referee with no choice but to issue a second yellow card.
According to Gallagher, the recent referee briefing made it clear that delaying a restart by kicking the ball away is an offense that can lead to a yellow card. Gallagher emphasized that although Rice might have felt that others had gotten away with similar actions, it did not excuse his behavior.
Gallagher noted that Rice’s deliberate act of knocking the ball off the field was key, as it prevented the game from restarting. He argued that Kavanagh had to follow the rules, which mandated a second yellow card for Rice.
When asked if Veltman’s actions influenced the situation, Gallagher acknowledged that Veltman might have been aware of what he was doing, but he stressed that it did not absolve Rice of his actions.
Veltman was within his rights to take the free kick, and Rice’s interference was the infraction that led to his dismissal.
Gallagher’s assessment suggests that, while the decision might seem harsh, it was in line with the laws of the game as they stand, and the referee applied them correctly.
“Ex-Referee Dermot Gallagher Backs Declan Rice Red Card Decision Amid Arsenal vs Brighton Controversy”