‘I don’t like it’ – ref admits he did not want to send Declan Rice off against Brighton

Chris Kavanagh says Arsenal midfielder put him in ‘awful position’ by kicking ball away and giving him no choice

Chris Kavanagh, the referee who sent off Declan Rice last month, admitted he “did not like” the controversial decision but told the Arsenal midfielder he “had no choice”.
Rice was shown a second yellow card during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton after he knocked the ball away from Joel Veltman as the defender prepared to take a free-kick.
The decision triggered another enormous debate about officiating in the Premier League, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta saying he was “amazed, amazed, amazed” as his players complained of inconsistency.
In audio released on the Premier League’s ‘Mic’d Up’ show on Tuesday night, Kavanagh can be heard telling Arsenal players that Rice had put him in an “awful position” by nudging the ball.
“I don’t like it, but he’s knocked the ball,” said Kavanagh. “Second yellow, for me. I had no choice, he knocks the ball away. As [Veltman’s] about to kick it, he knocks the ball.
“I have no choice. He’s put me in an awful position. Dec, you need to go I’m afraid.”
The decision has been supported by the Key Match Incidents panel and also by Howard Webb, the head of refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
Speaking on ‘Mic’d Up’, Webb said: “He’s clearly seen Declan Rice commit a foul, then kick the ball away for an opponent that was in the process of taking a free-kick.
“We’ve messaged very clearly and strongly to the players in pre-season around the importance of not getting involved with the ball once the whistle is gone, not delaying the restart in that way.
“Once he’s seen Declan Rice deliberately, clearly kick that ball away from the position of that free-kick, then I don’t think he’s got any choice.”
Declan Rice can’t believe it as he’s sent off for kicking the ball away 😳📺 Watch Arsenal vs. Brighton live on @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/E44NGyfjHz
Webb did accept, however, that Brighton’s Joao Pedro should have been booked earlier in the game for kicking the ball away as Arsenal wanted to restart the game with a throw-in. This decision was one of the main sources of frustration for Arsenal.
“It sits in the same kind of book around delaying the restart. Of course, he should have been cautioned here,” said Webb. “The officials on the field gave him too much benefit of doubt.
“They do delay Arsenal’s ability to restart. We’ve certainly messaged that back to the officials.”
João Pedro kicked the ball away as it went out of play during the first half but didn’t receive a card 👀 pic.twitter.com/cvB5ryd1vZ
Telegraph columnist Keith Hackett said at the time that the decision to send off Rice was “absolute nonsense”.
“Veltman’s actions could have easily earned him a red card, and was a far more egregious act than that of Rice,” Hackett said. “A yellow should have been given to him at a minimum. The video assistant referee would have been well within their rights to intervene.”
The ‘Mic’d Up’ show did not discuss the fresh VAR controversy that is brewing after Leicester City asked PGMOL to investigate whether the process that saw Crystal Palace’s first goal on Saturday ruled onside was correct.