Chelsea’s 2-0 victory over Everton was marred by controversial officiating decisions that former Premier League referees believe resulted in two key players escaping red cards. Morgan Rogers delivered a full-blooded challenge on James Garner in the first half, an incident that referee Paul Tierney allowed to continue. According to pundits Mike Dean and Mark Clattenburg, the tackle was dangerous enough to warrant a second yellow card, given Rogers was already on a warning, marking a significant lucky escape for the midfielder.
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The disciplinary scrutiny extended to Cole Palmer, who found himself at the center of two major flashpoints during the match. In the second period, Palmer risked a yellow card for kicking the ball away before receiving a caution for dissent. However, the most severe allegation arose in stoppage time when Palmer appeared to catch Jarrad Branthwaite while pressing the Everton defense, an action that drew sharp criticism from former officials who argued it warranted a sending-off.
Sky Sports’ ‘Ref Watch’ panel provided a technical breakdown of why VAR could not intervene in the Rogers incident. Former referee Dermot Gallagher explained that because Tierney played on, VAR was unable to review the play for a potential second yellow card. Gallagher noted, “He’s lucky the referee didn’t give a free-kick. If you look at the outcome, the referee plays on. Because he does that, the dilemma then for VAR is whether it’s a second yellow, but he can’t go for that,” highlighting the procedural limitations that allowed Chelsea to keep their full-strength attack on the pitch.
Source: London Evening Standard
