"It was tough, it was harsh" - Declan Rice reacts after being given controversial red card during Arsenal vs Brighton
Declan Rice has given his take on his hugely controversial sending-off in Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates (Saturday, August 31). Mikel Arteta's men were reduced to 10 men four minutes into the second half after the England international was given his marching orders.
Referee Chris Kavanagh sent Rice off for two bookable offenses, the second of which has been slammed by many in the football world. The Gunners midfielder was adjudged to have kicked the ball away as Joel Veltman went to take a quick free kick.
Veltman kicked Rice and left him on the floor but escaped punishment while the Englishman received a yellow card and a subsequent red card. It was the first time he'd been sent off in his career.
Rice defended himself but acknowledged the rules of the game when reflecting on the incident. He told Arsenal's media team:
"I was shocked , I think you could see in my face I was shocked. I've not sprinted back at him and smashed the ball away, I've touched the ball with the back of my foot. But listen, this is the laws of the game. If you touch the ball even a little bit it’s a red card after my challenge in the first half."
Rice's first yellow card came in the 42nd minute when he brought Veltman down with a clumsy foul. His second booking took place in the 49th minute and had fans at the Emirates in uproar. He added:
"It was tough, it was harsh, but its one of those things and I have to move on from it."
Rice will miss Arsenal's clash with Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby after the international break (September 15). He'll likely be in action for England over the next two weeks. Interim Three Lions manager Lee Carsley named him in his squad for Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland (September 7) and Finland (September 10).
Kai Havertz had given the hosts the lead in the 38th minute before Rice's two bookings and red card. Joao Pedro equalized for the Seagulls in the 58th minute in a frantic second half at the Emirates.
Peter Crouch claimed Joel Veltman got Declan Rice sent off in Arsenal's draw against Brighton
Peter Crouch covered the game as a pundit for TNT Sports, and he felt Veltman worked the referee. The former Liverpool striker argued that the Dutchman hoped the midfielder kicked the ball away:
"I don't think there's anyone in football who will tell you that he's (Veltman) genuinely tried to play a pass there. He's tried to put the ball there so hoping he (Rice) kicks it away and then he's bringing it to the referee's attention the fact that he has kicked it away. He's got him sent off."
Rice's second bookable offense involved delaying play. The argument against this is that the Arsenal man hadn't intentionally kicked the ball and that it was rolling anyway.