Arsenal fans who felt Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton was unfair may have a point, as Sky Sports’ "Ref Watch" is now questioning the decision that left the Gunners with only a draw.
Arsenal seemed poised to secure all three points before the international break, holding a 1-0 lead at halftime against Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
However, their plans took a hit just five minutes into the second half when Declan Rice was sent off for a second yellow card.
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Arsenal denied crucial win against Brighton
The incident occurred after Rice tapped the ball away and was tackled by Joel Veltman, an action referee Chris Kavanagh interpreted as delaying the restart.
Brighton capitalized on the situation, scoring shortly after to secure a 1-1 draw, leaving Arsenal with just a point.
Mikel Arteta and Bukayo Saka were vocal about their frustration after the match, particularly regarding the inconsistency in officiating.
They pointed out that Brighton’s Joao Pedro escaped a booking for a similar offence in the first half, sparking anger among Arsenal fans who flooded social media with their complaints.
Gallagher's shift on Rice’s red card
Initially, Dermot Gallagher, a former Premier League referee and Sky Sports’ in-studio expert, supported the decision to send Rice off.
Gallagher argued that players were warned at the start of the season about the risks of delaying restarts and believed Kavanagh had no choice but to issue the yellow card.
However, Arsenal fans, known for their keen eye for details, dug up a similar incident from 2021 involving former Arsenal academy player Henri Lansbury.
In that case, Sky's "Ref Watch" panel, including Gallagher, didn’t even consider a booking for the player who kicked the ball away. Instead, they focused on why a red card wasn’t issued to the offending player, much like Veltman in Rice’s case.
This discovery has reignited debate over the consistency of refereeing decisions, with Gallagher’s change in stance adding fuel to the fire for Arsenal supporters who feel that Rice was harshly treated.