Why was Declan Rice sent off against Brighton?

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Declan Rice was dismissed from Arsenal’s Premier League match against Brighton after kicking the ball away as Joel Veltman was about to take a free kick for the visitors. By the letter of the law he’s kicked the ball away, it doesn’t matter if he kicks the ball away 20-yards or six inches.” Following Rice’s dismissal, Brighton equalised in the 58th minute through Joao Pedro as Arsenal played on with 10-men. “Everyone who’s played football understands what’s happened there,” said Crouch, “Veltman’s quite simply played the referee, there’s no way he’s trying to play a pass 60-yards to nobody, he’s trying to get Declan Rice into trouble, he knows he’s on a yellow card and it’s worked. “That’s been the difference in the game.” open image in gallery Declan Rice was sent off in Arsenal's Premier League match against Brighton Mikel Arteta was “amazed” by the decision of Chris Kavanagh to show Declan Rice the first red card of his career and insisted it changed the game after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton.