Ian Wright calls out Premier League referee for giving Declan Rice a red card, suggesting it's the reason why Arsenal fans are upset.

During a recent match between Arsenal and Brighton, tensions ran high as Declan Rice received a red card for kicking the ball away during a free-kick. The decision was met with criticism from Arsenal legend Ian Wright, who described referee Chris Kavanagh as having "main-character energy". Wright was frustrated with the referee's handling of the situation and felt that Rice was unfairly sent off.

Wright acknowledged that Rice may feel disappointed with his actions, as it was his second yellow card of the game. However, he directed most of his frustration towards Kavanagh for his decisions throughout the match. Wright felt that the referee had let similar incidents go unpunished in the first half, making it even more frustrating when Rice was sent off.

Wright pointed to an earlier incident where a Brighton player had kicked the ball away, but was not booked for it. He believed that the same standard should have been applied to Rice's situation. Wright also criticized the actions of Joel Veltman, the Brighton player who was about to take the free-kick. He felt that Veltman was intentionally trying to get Rice sent off and that this behavior should have been reviewed by the VAR (Video Assistant Referee).

In Wright's eyes, Veltman's actions were unsportsmanlike and should have been punished. He believed that Veltman's intention was to get Rice booked and off the pitch, and that his behavior should not be tolerated. Wright also pointed out a similar incident in the first half, where a player from the opposing team had also kicked the ball away, but was not punished. He felt that the same standard should have been applied to Veltman's actions.

Overall, Wright was frustrated with the inconsistency in the referee's decisions and felt that it had cost Arsenal the game. He urged for a fair and consistent approach from referees and the use of VAR to review unsportsmanlike behavior on the field. Wright's criticism highlights the importance of fair play in the game of football and the need for referees to uphold this standard.

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