Referee 'didn't like' Rice red card in Brighton draw

Referee Chris Kavanagh said he "didn't like" nan determination to nonstop disconnected Declan Rice successful Arsenal's tie pinch Brighton past month, but said he "had nary choice".

Rice was sent disconnected during nan 1-1 tie astatine nan Emirates Stadium for a 2nd yellowish paper aft nudging nan shot distant from Joel Veltman arsenic he prepared to return a free-kick.

Arsenal head Mikel Arteta said he was "amazed, amazed, amazed" astatine nan determination instantly aft nan match.

Audio released connected Tuesday nighttime from nan Premier League's latest section of Mic'd Up revealed Kavanagh said he had nary prime but to show nan England midfielder a 2nd booking.

"I don't for illustration it, but he's knocked nan ball," said Kavanagh.

"Second yellow, for me. I had nary choice, he knocks nan shot away. As [Veltman's] astir to footwear it, he knocks nan ball.

"I person nary choice. He's put maine successful an atrocious position. Dec, you request to spell I'm afraid."

The decision, supported by nan Key Match Incidents panel, was besides backed by Howard Webb, main cognition serviceman of nan Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).

"He's intelligibly seen Declan Rice perpetrate a foul, past footwear nan shot distant for an force that was successful nan process of taking a free-kick," Webb told Mic'd Up.

"We've messaged very intelligibly and powerfully to nan players successful pre-season astir nan value of not getting progressive pinch nan shot erstwhile nan whistle is gone, not delaying nan restart successful that way.

"Once he's seen Declan Rice deliberately, intelligibly footwear that shot distant from nan position of that free-kick, past I don't deliberation he's sewage immoderate choice."

In nan aforesaid match, Brighton guardant Joao Pedro besides kicked nan shot away, but received nary punishment.

While Webb felt they were different scenarios, he did opportunity Kavanagh should person booked nan Seagulls' forward.

"It sits successful nan aforesaid benignant of book astir delaying nan restart. Of course, he should person been cautioned here," said Webb.

"The officials connected nan section gave him excessively overmuch use of doubt.

"They do hold Arsenal's expertise to restart. We've surely messaged that backmost to nan officials."

Among nan six decisions assessed successful nan latest version of Mic'd Up was Bournemouth's disallowed precocious extremity against Newcastle United.

Dango Ouattara's header from a area was ruled retired precocious connected astatine nan Vitality Stadium, pinch nan shot hitting nan apical of his arm.

With nary conclusive grounds arsenic to whether nan shot was debased capable connected Ouattara's limb to deem it a handball, Webb said it was incorrect of video adjunct referee (VAR) Tim Robinson to intervene, pinch nary grounds either measurement to beryllium whether aliases not it was a handball.

"In this situation, nan shot strikes Ouattara's shoulder, upper-arm area. It's difficult to beryllium wholly conclusive arsenic to precisely where," said Webb.

"The VAR looked astatine this and decided that, successful his master opinion, that was successful nan area of nan limb that has to beryllium penalised beneath nan bottommost of nan armpit. That's nan important reference point. I don't deliberation that's conclusive capable to intervene.

"Equally, if nan extremity had been disallowed by nan on-field officials, I don't deliberation there's grounds present to opportunity that there's nary handball either. So again, it goes backmost to referee's call. It's an important concept. And for those actual matters you request evidence. It's very clear that nan on-field telephone is wrong, I don't deliberation we person it here."