It’s clear that Declan Rice’s actions fell under the category of delaying the restart of play by kicking the ball away, leading to his second yellow card and subsequent dismissal. While the rule may be frustrating for players and managers, it is important for officials to enforce the Laws of the Game consistently to ensure fair play.
Overall, it is clear that the issue of delaying the restart of play is taken seriously by referees and there is a push for consistency in applying disciplinary sanctions for such actions. The focus is on maintaining the tempo and flow of the game, and players who deliberately kick the ball away or delay the restart will be penalized accordingly. In the case of Declan Rice’s sending off, the rolling ball argument was deemed irrelevant as his actions were intentional in delaying the restart. Similarly, Pedro should have been booked for kicking the ball away earlier in the match. Consistency in enforcing these rules is crucial for the fairness and integrity of the game.