Premier League referee Chris Kavanagh conceded he “did not like” displaying Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice a red card for kicking the ball away throughout the draw towards Brighton final month, however had no alternative.
The audio of the incident was launched on Tuesday within the first episode of the Premier League’s “Match Officers Mic’d Up” during which former referee Howard Webb joined former England striker Michael Owen to debate 5 on-field choices.
In it, Kavanagh is heard speaking to his assistants through his microphone, saying “I do not prefer it, however he is knocked the ball.”
Rice, who had already been booked, tapped the ball away from Joël Veltman to delay the taking of a free-kick. Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta afterwards mentioned he was “amazed” that the England midfielder had been proven a second yellow card.
Kavanagh was clearly uncomfortable with the choice he needed to make, however mentioned he was put in a troublesome scenario.
“Second yellow, for me. I had no alternative, he knocks the ball away. As [Veltman’s] about to kick it, he knocks the ball,” he’s heard to say. “I’ve no alternative. He is put me in an terrible place. Dec, you could go I am afraid.”
The Premier League hope the present will assist followers perceive the processes concerned in decision-making by on-field and VAR officers, following intense criticism final season.
Webb, who’s the chief working officer of referees’ physique the PGMOL, agreed that Kavanagh was right to ship off Rice.
“We have messaged very clearly and strongly to the gamers in pre-season across the significance of not getting concerned with the ball as soon as the whistle is gone, not delaying the restart in that manner,” Webb mentioned.
“As soon as he is seen Declan Rice intentionally, clearly kick that ball away from the place of that free-kick, then I do not assume he is received any alternative.”
Arteta was additionally aggravated that Brighton ahead Joao Pedro had escaped a yellow card for delaying the restart within the first half, and Webb conceded he ought to have been booked.
“After all, he [Pedro] ought to have been cautioned right here,” Webb admitted. “The officers on the sector gave him an excessive amount of good thing about doubt, feeling that the actions weren’t actually impactful as a result of they felt that the Arsenal gamers weren’t able to take that throw-in.”
Among the many different incidents mentioned was a penalty that was awarded to Everton‘s Dominic Calvert-Lewin towards Brighton by referee Simon Hooper however overturned after VAR invited the referee to evaluate the incident.
Footage confirmed Calvert-Lewin had truly trodden on the foot of a Brighton defender Lewis Dunk, not the opposite manner spherical.
“Typically the referee’s name might be clearly and clearly incorrect and on this case it was,” Webb mentioned.
“In order that’s a superb instance of a scenario the place the referee’s name was incorrect and it wanted intervention by the VAR.”
Webb did admit that VAR Tim Robinson was incorrect to disallowed Dango Ouattara’s stoppage time winner for AFC Bournemouth towards Newcastle United for handball.
“On this scenario, the ball strikes Ouattara’s shoulder, upper-arm space.” Webb defined. “It is onerous to be completely conclusive as to precisely the place. I do not assume that is conclusive sufficient to intervene.”
Data from ESPN’s Dale Johnson contributed to this report.
