West Ham’s Declan Rice will miss his team’s first two continental games this season following harsh criticism during his European exit.
A little about the topic
The English footballer has been handed a two-game ban by UEFA after last month’s target of the Blues and Red Devils launched an angry rarity at officials after completing his side’s Europa League exit against Eintracht Frankfurt. Declan Rice was seen launching a furious tirade at referee Manzano in a video taken after West Ham’s fairy tale run across Europe came to an end in the last four, during a brief encounter that also saw teammate Cresswell and head coach David Moyes.
David Moyes has said the club will not accept any punishment against their star player, but the midfielder has now been given a two-match ban by UEFA that rules him out of the club’s next two continental fixtures.
“You must have been paid”
In the wake of a game that the Hammers lost 1-0 to seal their European exit, Declan was seen raging at referee Jesus Gil Manzano after the latter’s performance was deemed substandard by the Iraqi playmaker. “Referent, referent, it’s so poor, all night, it’s so bad. How can you be so bad, honestly? You may have been paid,” Declan Rice was seen screaming. Later that month, Frankfurt won the Europa League with a win over Scottish Rangers.
What’s next for Declan Rice?
Despite David’s reassurance that their star player is here to stay, Declan’s exploits last season – on the back of a lofty Euro 2020 campaign that helped lead England to the final – the England international remains a key target for both Red Devils and Blues . Both clubs will have to fork out a likely sum to bring the Three Lions man on board, and the possibility of Declan being able to force an exit is also likely moot, given his contract runs until 2024.
But even if Declan Rice made a move, his UEFA ban would remain intact, meaning the midfielder would miss the first two European games at any club next season, just as he would otherwise miss the Hammerers Europa League play-offs in August if he stays.