Brighton & Hove Albion defender Joel Veltman has admitted Arsenal’s Declan Rice was unfortunate to have been sent off in their meeting prior to the international break.

The Seagulls earned a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium to end the Gunners’ 100% start to the 2024/25 season, but they claimed that point in controversial circumstances.

With Arsenal a goal to the good, Rice received a second yellow card for preventing Veltman from taking a quick free-kick after he fouled the Dutchman.

While trying to take the free-kick, Veltman swung and kicked Rice with some force, leading many to believe the red card given by referee Chris Kavanagh was actually for him due to violent conduct. However, it proved to be for Rice instead.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Veltman claimed the reaction to the incident on social media went over the top, though he sympathised for Rice after he admitted to making a mistake.

“For me, it goes really far, with like comments on social media. We have a new game day coming up, so I don’t want to say a lot about it,” Veltman said.

“The only thing I can say is that I didn’t want to kick him. It’s just he kicked it away, I kicked him. I find it quite harsh as well. If you see my reaction, you can look back, I was not going to the referee to get him a second yellow, I was going to him ‘Why did you kick it? I’m sorry I kicked you’.

“I think he gave an amazing comment. I think that’s what personally surprised me about him, how he commented in the media after.”

Red cards as a result of two bookings cannot be appealed and so Rice is suspended for Arsenal’s trip to north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

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