Halsey Criticizes Referee for Red Card on Arsenal Midfielder Rice: Kavanagh Provoked Conflict

Rice was sent off during Arsenal's draw with Brighton for obstructing a Seagulls free kick.

Halsey wrote for The Sun: "Declan Rice's dismissal against Brighton was a poor decision by referee Chris Kavanagh.

"The Arsenal midfielder was shown a second yellow in the 49th minute for delaying a restart.

"However, the ball was rolling when Brighton’s Joel Veltman took the free-kick, so the restart would not have taken place as it would have been wrong in Law.

"Therefore, the delaying a restart does not apply.

"Kavanagh went looking for trouble and he found it.

"A referee of his calibre at this level should not be sending players off for this."