PETER CROUCH POINTS OUT PREMIER LEAGUE MISTAKE AS HE WADES IN ON DECLAN RICE CONTROVERSY

Peter Crouch questioned referee Chris Kavanagh's failure to book Brighton's Joao Pedro for delaying a restart before Arsenal's Declan Rice was shown a second yellow card for the same offence in the same match.

England international Rice was given his marching orders early in the second half with Arsenal leading 1-0. Brighton striker Joao Pedro later found an equaliser, though, with the Seagulls claiming a point after taking advantage of playing 11 vs 10 for much of the second period.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta called out a lack of consistency while claiming he hadn't immediately received an explanation for the decision. Rice will now serve a one-match ban, keeping him out of the North London Derby against Tottenham in September.

Reflecting on the red card, TNT Sports anchor Lynsey Hipgrave indicated clubs and players had been informed of a crackdown from the Premier League, making reference to "clear, deliberate actions that are impactful in delaying restarts". While Crouch admitted Rice's dismissal was probably correct by the letter of the law, he pointed to the inconsistency.

"I'll show you impactful," Crouch began. "That [ball] went one yard [after Rice's touch] but in the first half, Joao Pedro kicked the ball 30, 40 yards [away].

"Surely that had more impact than the Declan Rice one. There's no way in the world he's playing that ball other than to slow the game down That's had a much bigger impact than Declan Rice's one.

"Nobody's brought that to [the ref's] attention. You can see Mikel Arteta trying to bring it to everyone's attention. By the letter of the law, Declan Rice probably has to go because he's spotted it and kicked the ball away."

Rice's team-mate Bukayo Saka was another to voice his frustrations after the game. "I thought it was a bit harsh for us," the forward said.

Do you agree with Crouch? Have your say in the comments section

"We just want some consistency. Joao Pedro booted the ball halfway across the pitch in the first half and got nothing for it and Dec got the slightest touch and was sent off.

"It is what it is, I dont want to put the whole game on the referee as we still had chances to win it. It has been a good start. Today is a disappointment but it is a long season."

Arteta's response was a similar one. "If it [bookings for delaying the restart] happens throughout the game in a consistent way it is fine but it didn't. It is the inconsistency," he said.

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2024-08-31T16:41:28Z dg43tfdfdgfd