Ian Wright slams referee Chris Kavanagh for Declan Rice red card.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has unleashed his fury on referee Chris Kavanagh, accusing him of having ‘main-character energy’ after sending off Declan Rice in the 1-1 draw against Brighton.
Wright believes Kavanagh’s decision was harsh and has criticized the official for his role in the incident.
Rice’s red card in the 49th minute, his second booking of the match, left Arsenal with 10 men and forced them to settle for a draw.
While Wright acknowledges Rice will be ‘a little disappointed’, his ire is directed squarely at Kavanagh.
Wright’s scathing assessment of Kavanagh’s performance has sparked debate, with some agreeing that the referee’s decision was excessive, while others argue that Rice’s actions warranted the red card.
The incident has added fuel to the ongoing discussion about refereeing standards in the Premier League.
Wright told Premier League Productions.
‘You have to take the point.’
‘I do think Declan (Rice) will look at the two yellows and be a little disappointed.
‘But, at the same time, when you look at the refereeing and some of the decisions he (Chris Kavanagh) made.
I think this referee had main-character energy anyway.
‘At the same time, when people (Joao Pedro) are kicking the ball away in the first half and you aren’t booking them, then you kind of do feel a little aggrieved by that.
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‘This is why I think people were so upset. That challenge, yes, (Rice’s first yellow card). It’s one of those challenges where he has made a genuine attempt to get the ball, but you get booked for that.
‘But then here (second yellow). You look at Veltman and what he is doing there.
Veltman is trying to get him booked.
Veltman has nobody to pass the ball to.
‘He knows exactly what he is doing. Those are the things VAR can look at.
He knows what he is doing. He is trying to get him sent off.
‘Declan Rice doesn’t have to kick the ball, but at the same time, Declan is playing the game, but so is Veltman.
You can recognise what Declan is doing, but you aren’t supposed to recognise what Veltman is doing?!
‘He’s not actually looking to pass that to anyone. He’s acting like he is going to do it, so if it hits Declan, then he gets booked and he is off.
‘And that’s what happened – if we are going to be doing stuff like that with people kicking the ball away, then do that in the first half with Joao Pedro.
‘The ball went out of play and he still blasted the ball away. Do that as well.
I don’t care about an apologetic face (from the referee when he had to send Rice off) and that. Do it properly all the way.
That’s why Arsenal fans have got the hump.’
Arsenal remains in 3rd position, while Brighton is ahead of them on goal difference.
