Audio of Declan Rice red card released as Howard Webb makes feelings clear on call
Howard Webb, the PGMOL's chief refereeing officer, has thrown his support behind the decision to issue a red card to Declan Rice during Arsenal's pre-international break clash with Brighton.
After picking up an initial booking in the draw for a late challenge on Joel Veltman in the first half, Rice saw a second yellow four minutes post-half-time. The midfield dynamo found himself in hot water as he collided with Veltman at the Brighton corner again in the second half, with referee Chris Kavanagh awarding a free-kick in the aftermath.
Veltman, poised to take the kick while the ball was still rolling, felt Rice impeded the play by flicking the ball away. Veltman inadvertently kicked Rice instead, leading to the Arsenal midfielder's expulsion from the match after receiving a second yellow card.
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VAR Andy Madley reviewed the incident and gave it the all-clear, much to Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's dismay. The full conversation captured on the referees' microphones has now been made public.
Webb, upon examining the audio published in the Premier League's Match Officials Mic'd Up feature, stated that Rice deserved the sending-off, emphasizing that players have been clearly instructed not to interfere with the ball after the whistle or delay the restart, which Rice apparently did.
"As you hear, he's clearly seen Declan Rice commit a foul, then kick the ball away. We've messaged very clearly to the players about the importance of not getting involved with the ball once the whistle has gone, not delay the restart in that way," Webb highlighted.
"We've said we'll be consistent in the way we handle this. People want to see the game with tempo and flow. Once he's seen Declan Rice clearly kick the ball away from that free-kick, then I don't think he's got any choice but to send him off.
"It may have been [moving], but Declan Rice still felt the need to kick that ball away. It still has that impact and we have to look at what the player does in that situation. He acts in a way that is very clear.
"In this situation the actions of Rice were designed to delay the restart and therefore I don't think he can have any complaints when his actions result in a yellow card. He's got no business going near the ball having given away a free-kick."
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Arsenal manager Arteta expressed his dismay at referee Kavanagh's inconsistency, highlighting Rice's confusion in the incident that saw him get booked for interfering with a free-kick:
"I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be. In the first half, there were two incidents and nothing happened. Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan, he turns around, doesn't see the player coming and touches the ball," Arteta remarked.
"By law, he can make that call, but by law then he needs to make the next call which is a red card. So we play 10 against 11. This amazed me, at this level. Obviously, he had a reaction."