Declan Rice escaped a red card during Arsenal's heavy defeat at the hands of Brighton.
Declan Rice was spared a red card for kicking out at Malick Yalcouye
Declan Rice was spared a red card for kicking out at Malick Yalcouye (Image: SKY SPORTS)
Declan Rice didn't deserve a red card for kicking out at Brighton midfielder Malick Yalcouye during Arsenal's defeat over the weekend. That is the view of former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher, who agreed with referee Darren England's decision to only show a yellow card to the Arsenal playmaker.
The incident took place minutes before the final whistle, when Rice kicked the legs of Yalcouye as the pair jostled in the middle of the pitch. They were nowhere near the ball, which was being carried down the right flank. England chose to issue a yellow card, rather than a red, in a decision that caused plenty of debate afterwards.
Speaking on Ref Watch on Monday morning, Gallagher insisted that Rice's kick did not meet the criteria for a sending-off.
He said: "I think it's petulant [but] what you've got to remember is that it's got to be deemed violent conduct. Is that brutal or malicious? I think not.
"He runs a risk, there's no doubt about that. For me, that's not an act of violence. It's a very unwise thing to do, but the referee got it right."
Jay Bothroyd, meanwhile, drew similarities between the Rice incident and the one involving Bruno Fernandes in the Manchester derby.
On that occasion, the United skipper kicked out at Phil Foden, who retaliated and was controversially sent off for violent conduct while Fernandes escaped punishment.
Bothroyd commented: "Why is Bruno Fernandes' not violent conduct last week? I think if Foden goes, Fernandes should go too.
"I don't think this is worthy of a red card. If that was a counter-attack, that would be seen as a professional foul. He's just clipping his heels.
"If he got sent off though, most of us would be asking why is that a red card? I didn't think Foden was a red card last week, and I don't think this one was a red card."