The Premier League’s Match Incidents panel has unanimously upheld referee Chris Kavanagh’s decision to dismiss Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice during the match against Brighton.
Rice, who received his second yellow card in the second half, will now serve a one-match suspension, forcing him to miss Sunday’s highly anticipated clash against Tottenham Hotspur.
The incident in question occurred when Rice slightly touched the ball, preventing Brighton’s Joel Veltman from taking a quick free kick. Although the contact was minimal, Kavanagh deemed it a deliberate attempt to impede his opponent.
The panel supported Kavanagh’s call, stating, “Rice knows what he’s doing – it’s a gentle touch, but once the referee sees it he has no choice.”
This ruling has sparked debate among football fans and pundits, with some arguing that the decision was harsh.
