After a Premier League tribunal unanimously upheld Declan Rice’s red card against Brighton, Gary Lineker has intensified his criticism of the decision.
During Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton, Rice was controversially assessed two yellow cards and given the order to march; as a result, he will miss this Sunday’s North London Derby against Tottenham.
His second yellow card, for stopping Joel Veltman from taking a fast free kick, has caused controversy, even though it was unanimous that his first yellow for a serious foul was warranted.
As Veltman stepped up to take a free kick, the defensive midfielder looked to kick the ball away, which technically calls for a booking.
Though Rice only made the tiniest touch with the ball, it has been contended that Veltman intended to get his opponent sent off rather than genuinely taking a free kick.
Joao Pedro booted the ball away in a blatant time-wasting offence during the first half, and Brighton would score the equalizer minutes after the referee, Chris Kavanagh, neglected to book him.
But that’s not how the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel sees it; they decided on Tuesday that: ‘Rice knows what he’s doing – it’s a gentle touch, but once the referee sees it he has no choice. Clear, deliberate and impactful.’
The five panelists all supported the red card, a call that England great Lineker called “utter nonsense” on Twitter.
In an earlier interview with The Rest is Football, the Match of the Day host claimed that the red card was evidence that “football had lost its mind” and stated, “First yellow was a definite yellow.”
‘It’s one of those that by the letter of the law, you could probably argue that it might be a yellow card, but I mean, he flicked the ball about a foot. The ball was actually rolling at the time anyway.
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