In Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brighton, the Gunners midfielder received a second yellow card for interfering with a free kick. Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher dismissed the notion of using ‘common sense’ to prevent Declan Rice of Arsenal from getting a second yellow.
Rice’s early exit from the game came after committing two bookable offenses within 49 minutes. The first yellow came from a challenge on Joel Veltman just before halftime, and the second followed minutes into the second half for delaying a Brighton free kick.
Despite only slightly impeding Veltman’s attempt to take the free kick, Rice’s actions warranted a second booking. Gunners manager Mikel Arteta expressed his surprise at the decision, but Gallagher defended the referee’s choice. Gallagher explained that the briefing at the start of the season was clear, and delaying a restart could result in a yellow card.
The consequences of the red card were evident as Rice will miss the upcoming North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur due to a one-match ban. Despite maintaining a 1-0 lead prior to the red card, Arsenal conceded an equalizer shortly after, resulting in a 1-1 draw.
Arteta expressed his disbelief at the inconsistency of decisions, particularly in non-critical situations. Although the law allowed for the call, Arteta highlighted the need for consistency in applying the rules at such a high level of competition.
