Martin Keown and Peter Crouch left baffled by controversial Declan Rice red card decision - ‘Where is the consistency?’

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Declan Rice's controversial red card was the biggest talking point after Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton in the Premier League live on TNT Sports and discovery+. The England midfielder saw a second yellow for knocking the ball off the pitch, but Martin Keown asked "where's the consistency" after flagging up an earlier incident featuring Brighton goalscorer Joao Pedro.

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Martin Keown called for greater consistency from officials after Declan Rice was shown a costly red card in Arsenal’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Brighton.

The England international was dismissed for the first time in his career when he was shown a second yellow for knocking the ball off the pitch as Seagulls defender Joel Veltman prepared to take a quick free-kick.

Rice was clattered by the Dutchman too for his troubles, and when he returned to his feet he was sent off to become the highest-profile victim of new laws that aim to crack down on deliberate actions that delay restarts.

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TNT Sports experts Keown and Peter Crouch analysed the incident after the game and were on the same page in believing it was a harsh decision.

“I know that Declan knocks the ball away, but why is Veltman knocking the ball into his path? Where is he supposed to go? It’s almost like a free punt - ‘OK, I’ll do somebody at the same time’,” said Keown.

“I know the principle of this new law is that they want to move people away from the ball.

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“But there’s also a responsibility to keep both sets of 11 players on the pitch and I don’t really feel that’s a sending-off offence.”

The pundits also pointed out that Brighton forward Joao Pedro, who later netted the Seagulls’ equaliser, escaped unpunished for kicking the ball halfway up the pitch after it went out for a throw-in during the first half.

Keown asked: “Where is the consistency there?”

Arsenal led 1-0 when Rice was sent off, and had to settle for a draw in an early blow to their Premier League title bid.

To make matters worse, it means that the England midfielder will be suspended for the north London derby away to Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.

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Crouch was convinced that Veltman knew exactly what he was doing and orchestrated the incident in order to get the decision he wanted from referee Chris Kavanagh.

“I don’t think anyone in football would tell you he’s genuinely trying to play a pass there,” Crouch said when looking at Veltman’s attempted quick free-kick.

“(Veltman) has put the ball there in the hope (Rice) kicks it away, and then he’s bringing it to the referee's attention, the fact that he has kicked it away. And he’s got him sent off.”