Ally McCoist did not hold back when giving his assessment of Declan Rice’s sending off for Arsenal against Brighton on Saturday.
Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Emirates Stadium last time out, as both sides dropped points in the Premier League for the first time this season.
However, far more than the goals or the result, one decision made by referee Chris Kavanagh has hogged the headlines in the aftermath of the game.
Early in the second half, with Mikel Arteta’s side 1-0 up, Declan Rice was shown a second yellow card after tapping the ball off the pitch after Brighton had been awarded a free kick.
However, as the former West Ham United man nudged the ball away, the ball was both still in motion and not where it needed to be for the Seagulls to legally restart play from.
What’s more, in his apparent attempt to take the set-piece quickly, Brighton ace Joel Veltman kicked Rice, and escaped unpunished.
Former Rangers striker Ally McCoist has now given his verdict on the contentious issue.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice is shown a 2nd yellow card and sent off by referee Christopher Kavanagh during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC an…
Ally McCoist vents about Declan Rice red card
Speaking on talkSPORT, the Scot shared his thoughts on the matter.
McCoist stated: “I’ll be brutally honest… When I saw it again, I thought it was Veltman under scrutiny for a kick on Declan Rice. That’s the way it looked.
“I’ll give you my take on it. This will completely split opinion, because a lot of folk will say, ‘letter of the law, he’s got to go.’ Right, and if you’re doing everything by the letter of the law, then he probably has got to get a yellow card.
“But surely… common sense has to prevail at times. I think Declan Rice was wrong, flicking the ball away. I think the ref was wrong, giving him another yellow card. I thought he should’ve shown a little bit of common sense.
“I think Veltman, who I think was probably, not probably, he was definitely at it… He is not trying to take a quick free kick or gain any advantage, he probably succeeded in what he was trying to do, and that was maybe to get Declan Rice to flick the ball and get booked and sent off.
“So, Veltman has not covered himself in glory, in my opinion… I don’t think anybody covered themselves in glory, right, but I would not in any way, shape, or form have sent Declan Rice off for that.”
Pundits debate Rice red card in Arsenal vs Brighton
Joe Hart feels Kavanagh was unhappy to send Rice off, that was still the action that he took.
The official has had his defenders and critics since then. Broadcaster Richard Keys has claimed Rice was “daft” to do as he did, and that “justice” was served against the North London club.
Two former Premier League referees have also been divided by the debate. Dermot Gallagher claimed Kavanagh was correct to dismiss the midfielder.
However, Mark Halsey felt Kavanagh was “looking for trouble” and showed inconsistencies in his decision-making with this call.
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