Chris Kavanagh’s decision to show Declan Rice a second yellow card against Albion has been officially backed.

The Key Match Incidents, which reviews major refereeing decisions in the Premier League each week, said the right call was mad.

Rice touched the ball away from Joel Veltman after Albion were awarded a free-kick.

Veltman was looking to direct a quick pass towards Danny Welbeck.

The incident caused a lot of debate and social media opinion, some of it ill-informed.

The panel agreed Rice’s actions were "clear, deliberate and impactful" and a second yellow card was correct.

Their accompanying report read: "Rice knows what he's doing - it's a gentle touch, but once the referee sees it he has no choice."

The KMI panel is independent and made up of three former players or coaches, one Premier League representative and one from the Professional Game Match Officials Board, the referees' body.

Arsenal’s complaints appeared to focus more on Joao Pedro escaping a first-half yellow card or Veltman not receiving some punishment rather than looking to argue against Rice’s yellow cards.