‘That’s Declan Rice’s issue’ – New VAR audio released from Arsenal vs Brighton red card controversy
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has offered his thoughts on the red card handed out to Declan Rice in Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Brighton. The Gunners midfielder was shown a second yellow card in the draw against the Seagulls after it was deemed he had delayed the restart following a foul on Joel Veltman.
With Rice having picked up an early caution for a foul on Veltman, the 25-year-old was already treading carefully when he again illegally challenged the Brighton full-back. Rice then delicately touched the ball out of play as Veltman went to take the free-kick with referee Chris Kavanagh believing he had intentionally delayed the restart.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was far from pleased with the decision especially as the man disadvantage looked to cost his team two points. “I was amazed,” he said when asked about the red card incident. “Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be.
“In the first half, there are two incidents and nothing happens. Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan (on the back of his leg), he turns around, he doesn’t see the player coming and he touches the ball. By law, he can make that call, but then by law he needs to make the next call, which is red card so we play 10vs10. This is what amazed me. At this level it’s amazing.”
AR1: Just knocked it away, he’s on a second…
REF: Going to have no choice mate.
AR1: It’s a second yellow mate.
REF: I know I’ve got no choice.
AR1: It’s delaying the restart.
REF: I know it is and I’m going to have to deal with it aren’t I? I know. Second yellow for me.
REF: I have no choice, he knocks the ball away.
VAR: Just watching this, show me this again. If you watch Veltman, he’s looking away, he’s looking to play the ball there. So for me that’s not a kick, are you happy with that? He’s looking to play the ball.
AVAR: No, agreed. Agreed.
VAR: That’s Declan Rice’s issue to be honest.
AVAR: Yeah, it’s not an act of violent conduct for me.
VAR: I am happy with that.
REF: He’s put me in an awful position. You did kick the ball away, you did. Dec you need to go. I don’t like it but he’s knocked the ball. Dec you need to go I am afraid.
VAR: Kav it’s all checked and cleared. It’s exactly as seen.
Once the clip had finished, Webb offered his verdict on the incident where he agreed with the on-field decision to send Rice off. “No I don’t think so,” he said when asked by Owen if Rice could have any complaints. “As you hear from Chris Kavanagh, 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.” Footage of a similar offence committed by Joao Pedro, but that was not punished was then played with Webb explaining the difference between the two incidents.
“It’s a different type of scenario,” he said. “It sits in the same kind of book around delaying the restart. Of course, he should have been cautioned here. The officials on the field gave him too much benefit of doubt, feeling that the actions weren’t really impactful because they felt that the Arsenal players were not ready to take that throw-in.
“They were a bit distant away from the ball and like Veltman, who was right there, I think when we look at this it’s quite clear that the actions of Joao Pedro do have an impact. They do delay Arsenal’s ability to restart. And yes, that should have been the yellow card. And we’ve certainly messaged that back to the officials.”
