"The worst red card decision in football history" - Piers Morgan delivers verdict on Declan Rice red card as Arsenal play out draw against Brighton
Piers Morgan has lambasted referee Chris Kavanagh's decision to send Declan Rice off in Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion today (August 31). The English midfielder was controversially handed his marching orders for a second bookable offense.
Declan Rice saw red in the 49th minute after kicking the ball away as Brighton's Joel Veltman went to take a quick free-kick. The Dutch defender sent the England international tumbling to the ground, but Kavanagh gave the Gunners man a second yellow card and a subsequent red card.
Morgan was bemused by the decision and described it as one of the worst in history. The British broadcaster wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
"This is the worst red card decision in football history."
Arsenal took the lead through Kai Havertz in the 38th minute after the German attacker exquisitely dinked the ball over Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. They were looking to make it three wins from three games, but Rice's sending-off changed the course of the game.
The Seagulls equalized in the 58th minute when Pedro Neto pounced against the ten men, showing a striker's instinct in front of goal. Mikel Arteta will have been happy to take a point as the one-man disadvantage started taking its toll as the game wore on.
The two sides' draw will be marred by Rice's sending off, which left the Emirates faithful furious. It was the former West Ham United captain's first red card of his career.
Ray Parlour labelled Declan Rice's red card a disgrace in Arsenal's draw vs Brighton
Ray Parlour was enraged with Declan Rice's sending off, and he let loose about the decision on X. The Arsenal icon wrote:
"Absolute joke of a decision. Disgrace"
It's up for debate whether Rice's actions justified a second yellow card, but Veltman was lucky to escape without punishment for his response. The Englishman had picked up his first yellow card in the 42nd minute after fouling the Dutchman.
Declan Rice will now miss the Gunners' trip to Tottenham Hotspur on September 15 for the north London derby. This is a headache for Arteta, as summer signing Mikel Merino has been ruled out for weeks with a fractured shoulder.
The Spanish midfielder sustained the injury during his first training session with the club. Arteta will be seething with the cards he's been dealt in the past 24 hours, but taking a point today was a good finish at the end.