Declan Rice was sent off in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Brighton, leaving supporters frustrated. This red card means Rice will miss the crucial North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur on September 15.
But why can’t Arsenal appeal this decision?
The controversy began when Rice, already on a yellow card, was involved in an incident with Brighton’s Joel Veltman. Rice tapped the ball away as Veltman attempted to take a quick free-kick, leading to Rice receiving a second yellow card for delaying the restart of play. This decision by referee Chris Kavanagh was met with disbelief by Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, who pointed out the inconsistency in refereeing, as similar actions by other players went unpunished.
According to Premier League rules, clubs can only appeal a red card if it was a direct red card or if there was a case of mistaken identity. Since Rice’s red card was the result of two yellow cards, Arsenal cannot appeal the decision. The rules are clear that appeals for yellow cards are not permitted unless there is a case of mistaken identity, which does not apply in Rice’s situation.
Rice’s suspension comes at a challenging time for Arsenal. The North London derby is always a high-stakes match, and missing a key player like Rice could significantly impact the team’s performance. Additionally, Arsenal is already dealing with injuries to other key players (Mikel Merino) making Rice’s absence even more critical.
While the decision to send off Declan Rice may seem harsh and inconsistent, Arsenal’s hands are tied by the Premier League’s strict rules on appeals. As a result, the Gunners will have to face Tottenham without their star midfielder, hoping that the rest of the squad can step up in his absence.
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