Center-referee Chris Kavanagh sparked a barrage of reaction from fans after showing a red card to Declan Rice during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton in the Premier League matchday three clash.
Renowned Arsenal fan and journalist Piers Morgan led the list of fans who blasted the referee for the bizarre and controversial call. Piers Morgan wrote, “Still absolutely fuming about this. Declan Rice was sent off for being brutally kicked from behind. Not the worst decision to say this was the worst red card decision in professional football.”
Another fan, @Abdishukri Haybe, toed the same line as Piers Morgan’s and wrote, “This must be the worst red card decision in football history! What’s wrong with the referee?”
@damben1 wrote, “Just seeing Declan’s second yellow card (Red) incident, I feel that was too harsh by the referee. A warning would’ve just been enough.”
Another fan Mambo described the decision as ‘stupid.’
“Declan Rice red carded for getting kicked. Stupid decision,” he wrote.
ROCK wrote, “CHRIS KAVANAGH IS A DISGRACE.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacts to Declan Red card
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he was amazed at referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to award Declan Rice a red card. Speaking after the game, the Spaniard said Kavanagh was right to make the call but should have also awarded Joel Veltman a red card for lurching on Rice.
“By law, he can make that call, but then by law he needs to make the next call, which is a red card so we play 10vs10. This is what amazed me. At this level it’s amazing,” he said.
Was Declan Rice Red deserved?
While Chris Kavanagh’s decision has been met with outrage by most fans, there are still pockets of debatable points in the Declan Rice Red card incident. First, the contention has been on whether the ball was in play or not before Rice kicked it away. From the position of Chris Kavanagh, the ball was not in play despite Brighton’s attempt for a quick play.
Also, the challenge by Joel Veltman on Rice has drawn attention from fans, who believed Chris Kavanagh should have penalized the player instead for kicking Rice.
Tagging the Premier League Match Center report, Delio Lekarsia wrote;
“One of the worst idiocy in English game refereeing.. so now being kicked is a crime in EPL.”
It is pertinent to note that Joel Veltman’s challenge came after Declan Rice had kicked the ball away. Chris Kavanagh apparently focused on what led to the kick, not on the challenge itself. While there have been divergent opinions on the incident and Kavanagh making his decision from his best sense of judgement, we think the second yellow card was a cheap one.
Declan Rice red card is the first of his career
From the Premier League records, Declan Rice red card is the first the footballer has gotten after 245 career games in the English top flight. This is a stark contrast to notorious names such as former Fulham forward who got 13 red cards in the 2023-24 Premier League campaign alone.
Overall, Rice has been shown 32 yellow cards in the Premier League and has committed 172 fouls. He will now miss Arsenal’s next Premier League clash against London rivals Tottenham Hotspur due to the red card.
Why did Declan Rice get a red card?
Declan Rice got a card after he was shown a second yellow card for attempting to delay play by kicking Brighton’s set-piece away.
Can Arsenal appeal Declan Rice red card?
Arsenal cannot appeal Declan Rice red card because the FA rules only allow an appeal against a red card for cases of mistaken identity.
How many red cards does Declan Rice have?
Declan Rice red card against Brighton is the first red card of his Premier League career. He has gotten 32 yellow cards in 172 fouls.
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton match recap
Arsenal went into the break a goal up against Brighton, courtesy of a brilliant strike from Kai Havertz in the 38th minute. The Gunners started with purpose, pressing Brighton early in the game, but were met with resistance and some sharp goalkeeping by Bart Verbruggen.
Brighton did have their moments. Yankuba Minteh came close with a header but it was nicely tipped over by David Raya in the 15th minute. The response from Arsenal came quickly through Bukayo Saka after Minteh’s threat. Saka tested Verbruggen from the edge of the box, but the Brighton keeper was equal to the task.
The breakthrough came when Havertz received a pass on the edge of the box and executed a brilliant lob over the onrushing Verbruggen, leaving the goalkeeper stranded. The ball nestled in the net and Brighton’s defense had no answer to the German’s clever finish.
It was a physical game in the first half. Former West Ham anchor Declan Rice bagged a yellow card for a foul on his opponent Veltman.
Thomas Partey also saw yellow for a strong challenge. Brighton were forced into an early substitution with injured James Milner coming off Yasin Ayari in his place.
Meanwhile, Arsenal could have added to their lead, especially with a great effort by Leandro Trossard in added time but Verbruggen was again up to the task.
Overall, it was a great first-half performance by the home side who went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.
Pedro’s Equalizer Secures 1-1 Draw as Brighton Holds Arsenal
Brighton secured a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Arsenal, as Joao Pedro’s goal in the 58th minute cancelled out Kai Havertz’s strike in the opening half.
The second half started intensely with Arsenal going on to try to move clear of Brighton. Then it was also disrupted right in the beginning by the sending off of Declan Rice in the 49th minute.
After Rice’s red card, Brighton began to turn the screw on their numerical advantage. Yasin Ayari and Kaoru Mitoma led a few attacks.
The persistence paid off as Joao Pedro pounced on a rebound inside the box and rifled the ball into the net to level matters at 1-1.
Ten-man Arsenal never stopped pressing after Pedro’s goal. Bukayo Saka had a golden chance in the 77th minute but was brilliantly thwarted by Bart Verbruggen, who was sensational. Kai Havertz also tried to make Arsenal’s lead again, but that too was pointed out by Verbruggen.
It became one of those end-to-end games where both sides made substitutions in the hope of finding the winner. Neither could break the deadlock as Brighton’s defense held firm and a depleted Arsenal side struggled for a breakthrough.
At the death, it was all getting a bit nervy. Joao Pedro was booked for dissent. David Raya also went into the book for time-wasting. The referee finally brought an eventful match to an end with both teams sharing the spoils at the Emirates. Watch Video On YouTube.
