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Declan Rice was sent off from the Premier League match between Arsenal and Brighton after kicking the ball away as Joel Veltman attempted to take a free-kick for the visitors.

Kai Havertz’s opening goal gave the Gunners the lead and the score was 1-0 when Rice was shown a red card early in the second half.

Rice had already made a late tackle on Veltman in the first half, hitting the defender’s leg. This earned him his first yellow card of the match.

Just before the incident, Veltman had been awarded a free kick deep in his own half and appeared to take the set piece quickly. Rice pushed the ball away as the Brighton man took the kick and he followed through to hit Rice on the leg.

Play was stopped and the referee ruled that kicking the ball away was the first offence and that Rice was at fault.

Commentator Ally McCoist tried to explain the decision on TNT Sports, claiming that Veltman was lucky not to receive a yellow card.

“No complaints (about the first yellow card for Rice). I think Veltman is lucky, really. I don’t know what Declan Rice has to do.

“It looked like it was a kickout to him. I think Joel Veltman is lucky he stayed on the field with his kickout. According to the letter of the law, he kicked the ball, it doesn’t matter if he kicks it 20 yards or six inches.”

After Rice’s dismissal, Brighton equalised through Joao Pedro in the 58th minute with Arsenal playing down to 10 men. The match was Rice’s 245th Premier League appearance, and the first time he had been sent off in the competition.