Referee's Dilemma: Declan Rice's Red Card Sparks Controversy

Audio reveals referee Chris Kavanagh's reluctance in sending off Arsenal's Declan Rice, with VAR backing the decision amid calls for consistency.

Premier League referee Chris Kavanagh expressed discomfort in issuing a second yellow card to Declan Rice for delaying a free kick.
The incident occurred during Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton, with Rice's red card causing him to miss the subsequent north London derby.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal's manager, criticized the decision, highlighting inconsistency as Brighton's Joao Pedro was not booked for a similar action.
Howard Webb, PGMOL's chief operating officer, defended Kavanagh's decision, emphasizing pre-season guidelines against delaying restarts.
Webb acknowledged the mistake of not booking Pedro, promising feedback to officials to ensure consistent enforcement of rules.