Referee Kavanagh was relieved off the stress and duress that he was facing following his dismissal of Arsenal midfielder, Declan Rice. The incident happened during the Gunners match at home against Brighton.
The panel – which reviews big refereeing decisions in the Premier League – agreed the midfielder deserved the dismissal.
Rice, who was already on a booking, nudged the ball away from Joel Veltman as he prepared to take a free-kick in the 49th minute of Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Brighton last weekend.
It was the first red card of the England’s star career. The panel agreed that the card was deserving for his actions were “clear, deliberate and impactful” and a second yellow card was correct. The panel agreed unanimously on the decision. The board said, “Rice knows what he’s doing – it’s a gentle touch, but once the referee sees it he has no choice.”
Arsenal Vs Brighton Game
Arsenal took the lead at the Emirates after a fine goal from forward – Kai Havertz. However, Joao Pedro’s leveller meant that the points were shared between the two teams. The game ended with a lot of different opinions from the football fraternity. Many believed that Rice’s red card was undeserving. This came after an incident that involved Joao Pedro earlier when he kicked the ball away from what seemed as frustration.
The KMI and it’s decisions
The KMI panel is independent and made up of three former players or coaches, one Premier League representative and one from the Professional Game Match Officials Board, the referees’ body.
It also ruled the video assistant referee (VAR) was right to intervene in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s goal in Liverpool’s 3-0 win at Manchester United.
Initially the goal was allowed, but was then ruled out. This is because Mohamed Salah deemed to have been offside in the build-up.
It was the only on-pitch decision ruled to have been incorrect out of the 23 looked into for match week three.
The panel was unanimous in its support of every on-field call. However, the decision not to give Crystal Palace’s Will Hughes a second yellow card in their 1-1 draw at Chelsea.
The midfielder, already on a booking, avoided a caution from referee Jarred Gillett despite pulling back Cole Palmer outside the box just after half-time.
The first caution was unanimously supported as correct. Majority (3-2) supported Gillett’s decision not to issue a second yellow.
However, two of the panellists argued: “Palmer is the wrong side of Hughes and has options left and right, therefore it is stopping a promising attack.”
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