DECLAN RICE was left gobsmacked after being controversially sent off in Arsenal’s clash with Brighton.
The England international was booked in the first half for a wild lunge.
And an act of petulance just minutes after the restart saw referee Chris Kavanagh send him for an early bath.
Rice was shown red for kicking the ball away after Brighton were awarded a free kick in their half in the 49th minute.
He poked the ball away a split second before Joel Veltman went to kick it up the park.
Rice went down in agony and expected the Dutch defender to be given a yellow when he rose to his feet.
But Kavanagh stunned the Emirates faithful – and Rice – by opting to show the midfielder a second booking.
The former West Ham skipper couldn’t believe it and was left speechless.
And he wasn’t the only one baffled by Kavanagh’s decision.
One Gunners fan wrote on X: “Joao Pedro kicks the ball away the first half and no yellow.
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“Rice gets sent off for the same offense after being on the receiving end of violent conduct.”
Another said: “I saw Joao Pedro kick the ball away in the first half with everyone shouting for it and the ref ignoring.
“Declan Rice has just been sent off for tapping it in the 2nd half.”
And another said: “How does Declan Rice get a red card for getting kicked????”
One remarked: “A Brighton player booted the ball 30 yards after giving away a throw-in.
“Nothing. Declan Rice taps the ball one yard and gets booted in the process. Second yellow card.”
Gunners superfan and Sun columnist Piers Morgan was also left flabbergasted by the decision
He wrote: “What the f*ck was that?
“Declan Rice sent off for being kicked to pieces? Worst red card decision I’ve ever seen.”
Things went from bad to worse for the Gunners nine minutes later when Pedro levelled the scores with a tap-in inside the 18-yard-box.
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