I've seen very few references to this but I think it was a factor in the second yellow. The first foul was a borderline red but the ref didn't give it. Having seen him kick the ball away, the ref was in no mood to give him the benefit of the doubt again.It’s all irrelevant as for me the first yellow was a red anyway. Watch it again, once he realises he’s overrun it then Rice isn’t even looking at the ball, he’s looking at Veltman. Rice is a shitehouse on the pitch, far away from a ‘hard man’.
I'm not a football ref but I am a rugby one and I've certainly given players the benefit of doubt after a dodgy but of play. If they do it again, then it's time for a little rest on the sidelines.
We saw something similar in the Utd/Liverpool game when Mainoo committed a foul, wasn't booked and then did it again a few minutes later. It was pretty innocuous but he got the card.
Obviously, I don't know for sure but I reckon it was a factor in Rice's card.
Whatever. I'm still enjoying the salty tears from north London