Declan Rice Breaks Silence on Shock ‘Harsh’ Red Card Following Brighton Draw
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has expressed his astonishment and disappointment after being dismissed during the Gunners’ 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.
The match, held at the Emirates Stadium, took a dramatic turn in the second half when Rice was shown a red card, much to the disbelief of players and fans alike.
The encounter started promisingly for Arsenal, with Kai Havertz giving them a slender lead just before half-time with a deft lob.
However, the game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the early stages of the second half when Rice was penalized. Having already received a yellow card, the England international was handed a second booking in the 49th minute under controversial circumstances.
The incident in question involved Brighton’s Joel Veltman. After a foul by Rice near the corner flag, Veltman rolled the ball away, only for Rice to flick it back. Veltman, apparently incensed, retaliated with a kick, causing Rice to tumble.
Despite Arsenal’s protests for Veltman’s dismissal, it was Rice who was penalized. Referee Chris Kavanagh deemed that Rice had delayed the restart of play by kicking the ball away, resulting in his red card.
Declan Rice Apologizes for First Career Red Card After Brighton Match
Speaking to Arsenal’s media channels, Rice conveyed his shock at the decision. “I was shocked, I think you could see in my face I was shocked,” Rice said. “He’s obviously gone over… I’ve not sprinted back in front of him and smashed the ball away. I’ve touched the ball with the outside of my foot. But look, this is the laws of the game. If you touch ball away, even a little bit, obviously it’s a red card after my challenge in the first half which I fully accept was a 50-50 that I didn’t win.”
Rice expressed regret over the incident, particularly as it marked the first red card of his career. “I just wanted to apologise obviously to my teammates, which I’ve done, and to the fans,” he said. “When you get sent off, it’s never nice. You get a sense of guilt over you, and I was lucky today that my teammates really helped me out and we didn’t lose the game.”
Rice’s dismissal means he will miss the crucial North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on September 15. Despite the setback, Rice is determined to learn from the experience and return stronger.
Declan Rice Breaks Silence on Shock ‘Harsh’ Red Card Following Brighton Draw