Arsenal: Referee chief says Declan Rice was correctly sent off but admits mistake was made

Referees’ chief Howard Webb says the official in charge of Arsenal ’s draw with Brighton last month was right to send Declan Rice off.

Referee Chris Kavanagh gave Eice a second yellow card after he was judged to have kicked the ball away when Brighton defender Joel Veltman went to take a free-kick.

Mikel Arteta said afterwards he was “amazed” at the decision, with the red card forcing Rice to miss last week’s north London derby.

Webb, however, has defended Kavanagh’s call and said he was correct to give Rice his marching orders.

We’ve messaged very clearly and strongly to the players about not delaying the restart

“As you hear from Chris Kavanagh, he’s clearly seen Declan Rice commit a foul, then kick the ball away for an opponent who was in the process of taking a free-kick,” Webb told Match Officials Mic’d Up.

“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.

“I think 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 but to send him off.”

Arteta was frustrated at Rice’s red card because of the inconsistency involved with it, as Brighton forward Joao Pedro was not booked in the first-half for kicking the ball away.

Webb has admitted that was a mistake and it will be relayed back to Kavanagh and other referees.

“Of course, he (Pedro) should have been cautioned here,” Webb said. “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 unlike 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.”

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