Declan Rice audio released as Howard Webb offers verdict on Arsenal controversy

Declan Rice was sent off against Brighton, leaving Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta in disbelief, with refereeing chief Howard Webb now wading into the debate over the decision

The PGMOL’s chief refereeing officer Howard Webb has backed the decision to show Declan Rice a red card against Brighton.

Rice was shown a second yellow-card four minutes after half-time in Arsenal’s clash against the Seagulls just before the international break. The midfielder had been booked in the first-half of the draw after a late tackle on Joel Veltman.

The duo clashed again early in the second period, with Rice crashing into the fullback down in the Brighton corner. Referee Chris Kavanagh awarded a free-kick, with Veltman pushing the ball forward to take it.

While the ball was still moving, Veltman began his run-up to take it, but Rice flicked it away before he could kick it forward. Veltman instead kicked Rice, who was subsequently shown a second yellow-card by Kavanagh.

The incident was checked and cleared by VAR Andy Madley, though the decision still left Gunners boss Mikel Arteta in disbelief. Now the full audio from the referees microphones has been released.

As he reviewed the audio for the Premier League’s Match Officials Mic’d Up show, Webb put his full backing behind the decision to send Rice off. He insisted players had been warned against delaying restarts, as Rice had done.

“As you hear, he’s clearly seen Declan Rice commit a foul, then kick the ball away. We’ve messaged very clearly to the players about the importance of not getting involved with the ball once the whistle has gone, not delay the restart in that way,” Webb said.

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“We’ve said we’ll be consistent in the way we handle this. People want to see the game with tempo and flow. Once he’s seen Declan Rice clearly kick the ball away from that free-kick, then I don’t think he’s got any choice but to send him off.

“It may have been [moving], but Declan Rice still felt the need to kick that ball away. It still has that impact and we have to look at what the player does in that situation. He acts in a way that is very clear.

“In this situation the actions of Rice were designed to delay the restart and therefore I don’t think he can have any complaints when his actions result in a yellow card. He’s got no business going near the ball having given away a free-kick.”

Arsenal boss Arteta was left furious with Kavanagh, accusing him of failing to be consistent with his decision making. He insisted that Rice had failed to see Veltman coming, with the free-kick coming in a ‘non-critical area’.

“I was amazed. Amazed, amazed, amazed because of how inconsistent decisions can be. In the first half, there were two incidents and nothing happened. Then, in a non-critical area, the ball hits Declan, he turns around, doesn’t see the player coming and touches the ball,” he added.

“By law, he can make that call, but by law then he needs to make the next call which is a red card. So we play 10 against 11. This amazed me, at this level. Obviously he had a reaction.”

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