Title: Arsenal Manager Criticizes Referee’s Decision After Declan Rice’s Red Card in Draw Against Brighton
Introduction:
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his disbelief and frustration at referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to send off Declan Rice in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton. Arteta highlighted the inconsistency in the referee’s decisions and questioned the need for a red card in the situation. However, visiting boss Fabian Hurzeler defended the decision, stating that Rice deserved to be sent off for time-wasting. Let’s delve deeper into the incident and the contrasting opinions surrounding it.
Arteta Criticizes Referee’s Inconsistency:
Mikel Arteta was left amazed by the inconsistency in the referee’s decisions during the match. He pointed out that there were two incidents in the first half that went unpunished, while Rice’s challenge, which occurred in a non-critical area, resulted in a yellow card followed by a red card. Arteta believed that if the referee made the initial call, he should have followed through with the red card, resulting in a 10 vs. 10 game. He expressed his surprise at the inconsistency at such a high level of football.
Contrasting Views on Rice’s Red Card:
While Arteta was critical of the referee’s decision, Fabian Hurzeler, the visiting manager, defended the red card. Hurzeler argued that Rice’s action of kicking the ball away was a clear case of time-wasting, warranting a caution. He emphasized that the incidents involving Rice and Joao Pedro were different and should not be compared. Hurzeler maintained that the decision to send off Rice was justified.
The Match Swings in Brighton’s Favor:
After Rice’s red card, the match shifted in Brighton’s favor. The Seagulls dominated the game, registering 19 shots compared to Arsenal’s three. Their expected goal statistic of 1.9 further underlined their dominance. Despite Arsenal’s strong start to the season, Brighton managed to maintain their unbeaten record and deny Arsenal a 100% win rate.
Unraveling the Incident:
Rice, who had already been booked in the first half, committed another challenge on Joel Veltman near the touchline. As Veltman attempted to take a quick free-kick, Rice nudged the ball away, resulting in a collision between the two players. Surprisingly, it was Rice who was shown a red card, leaving both teams and the Arsenal fans stunned.
Understanding the Rules:
The Premier League clarified that Rice was sent off for “delaying the restart of play,” which is considered a cautionable offense according to law 12 of the Football Association’s website. This includes kicking or carrying the ball away or deliberately provoking a confrontation by touching the ball after the referee has stopped play. Former referee Mike Dean confirmed that teams were informed before the season that kicking the ball away would lead to a booking.
Differing Opinions from Experts:
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown disagreed with the referee’s decision, arguing that Rice was put in a difficult position by Veltman’s action of knocking the ball into his path. Keown believed that the referee should have considered the responsibility of keeping all 11 players on the pitch and that Rice’s action did not warrant a sending-off. On the other hand, ex-Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock criticized Rice for needlessly forcing the referee into making a decision, suggesting that Rice should have been more cautious.
Conclusion:
The incident involving Declan Rice’s red card in Arsenal’s draw against Brighton has sparked contrasting opinions. While Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta criticized the referee’s inconsistency, Brighton’s manager, Fabian Hurzeler, defended the red card, citing time-wasting as the reason. The incident had a significant impact on the game, with Brighton dominating after Arsenal went down to 10 men. Experts have differed in their views, with some questioning the referee’s decision and others highlighting Rice’s responsibility in the situation.