Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Former Premier League referee Graham Barber has given his verdict on an incident involving Declan Rice during Brighton's victory over Arsenal at the weekend.
In what was undoubtedly the shock result of the weekend in the Premier League, Brighton secured a 3-0 victory over Premier League champions Arsenal.
The Seagulls opened the scoring in the first half, thanks to a goal from Pascal Gross, and they doubled their lead before half-time as Charalampos Kostoulas scored Brighton's second.
Not long after the break, Chema Andres made it 3-0 for Brighton, and they held on to secure victory, which has put them in third place heading into the international break.
There wasn't too much controversy in terms of incidents, but there was one situation that could have resulted in punishment for Arsenal midfielder Rice.
The England international was spotted kicking out at Malick Yalcouye just as the game was ending, and the referee opted to give him a yellow card.
VAR opted against intervening, sticking with the on-field decision of a yellow card for Rice.
Many were suggesting that there should have been a potential red card for Rice, with some pointing to the incident between Bruno Fernandes and Phil Foden.
Arsenal's Declan Rice clashes with Brighton and Hove Albion's Malick Yalcouye
Arsenal's Declan Rice clashes with Brighton and Hove Albion's Malick Yalcouye
Ex-Premier League referee gives verdict
Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Speaking exclusively to GIVEMESPORT, former Premier League referee Barber has had his say on the incident.
"Yalcouye actually nudged him right in the back. That was quite late and a needless challenge. And the two things I'm going to say about that are: we saw Bruno Fernandes the week before, right? In my opinion, clearly kicking out on the floor, whether it was with force or without force, he definitely kicked a player and got a yellow card. You could actually argue that Declan Rice's incident wasn't as bad as that, right? Because he actually never really kicked him. He actually just followed through with his knee, and so I think yellow card was the right decision for me."
Barber also mentions consistency and how hard it is to have consistency week in, week out in football, while also suggesting that it was a 'ridiculous' decision from Rice.
"Years and years ago, the head of the UEFA Referees Committee used to tell us, "No game is the same, and no game is refereed the same." Because they're all different. And if you're trying to get consistency of decision-making from game to game to game, I think you'll find that very difficult. I think what you can get is consistency over 90 minutes. So Declan Rice, I think yellow card was the right answer, was the right decision. I would say to you, why put yourself in that position where you're asking the referee to make a decision? It's just a ridiculous thing to do for a professional footballer."