In a controversial moment during Arsenal’s Premier League match against Brighton, Declan Rice was sent off for “delaying a restart,” a decision that sparked significant debate.
Rice, who was on the receiving end of a kick from Brighton’s Joel Veltman, received a red card after being shown a second yellow.
As a result, Rice will miss Arsenal’s next match against their fierce rivals Tottenham in two weeks.
The incident occurred when Rice lightly touched the ball while preparing to take a free-kick, following a brief altercation with Veltman.
Veltman kicked Rice after the ball was touched, a move Rice interpreted as a retaliatory action, especially since the two players had clashed earlier, leaving Veltman on the ground.
Despite this, the referee viewed the situation differently, believing that Veltman was attempting to restart the game quickly, and Rice’s action caused the delay, leading to his dismissal.
The referee’s decision aligns with the new Premier League rules introduced for the 2024/25 season.
According to these regulations, any deliberate attempt to delay the restart of play, whether by players or technical staff, will result in a yellow card.
Arsenal’s protests, including those from Rice, were reviewed by VAR, but the initial decision stood, forcing Rice to leave the pitch.
VAR, supporting the referee’s call, only intensified the frustration for Rice and his Arsenal teammates.
The Premier League’s official website outlines the rules surrounding restarts, clarifying that technical staff or players who delay restarts by holding the ball or kicking it away will face sanctions.
While technical staff can be sent off for such actions, players are given yellow cards.
These strict guidelines aim to maintain the flow of the game.
The decision to send off Rice left fans and commentators puzzled.
Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist, who were commentating for TNT Sports, voiced their confusion, with McCoist particularly questioning what Rice could have done differently.
McCoist argued that it appeared Veltman had kicked out at Rice, which should have been reviewed more closely, suggesting that Veltman was fortunate to remain on the pitch.
To compound Arsenal’s frustrations, Brighton quickly took advantage of Rice’s absence.
Nine minutes after his dismissal, João Pedro scored his second goal of the season, equalizing the match after Kai Havertz had given Arsenal the lead in the first half.
Despite the controversy and tension, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving both teams unbeaten as the Premier League season continues.
