Refereeing scandal in the derby! Palmer avoided a straight red but still let Chelsea down. VIDEO
The London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham in the eighth round of the Premier League ended not only with a 2-0 victory for Spurs but also with a series of controversial refereeing decisions. Cole Palmer became the main antagonist of the incidents, first escaping a sending-off for a reckless challenge before eventually receiving a red card.
In the 71st minute, Palmer went into a fierce challenge with Mateus Fernandes. Despite the nature of the collision, the referee decided to show both players yellow cards. As a result, the England midfielder got away with a booking, although his actions could have warranted a more severe punishment. The decision raised questions, as similar incidents often lead to a straight red card.
However, Palmer did not remain on the pitch for long. After Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders scored an own goal, the hosts' leader once again found himself at the center of the referee's attention. This time, the Englishman committed a reckless challenge on Conor Gallagher and received a second yellow card, which automatically became a red.
As a result, Chelsea were reduced to ten men, while Tottenham saw out the match at Stamford Bridge to secure a 2-0 victory. It was a painful evening for the Blues, marked by a goalkeeping error and the dismissal of one of their key players.
Jan Novak
Dailysports's expert
