Ex-Premier League Referee Reveals If Cole Palmer Deserved Straight Red Card

· GiveMeSport

Chelsea star was at the centre of massive controversy against Tottenham

Former Premier League referee Graham Barber has exclusively told GIVEMESPORT that if he was the man in the middle for the game between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, he would have shown Cole Palmer a straight red card for the incident with Mateus Fernandes.

The big game of the weekend was at Stamford Bridge where the two London rivals locked horns and, for once, it was Spurs who came out on top, picking up only their second win in the Premier League era at the home of their west London opponents.

The visitors were the better team on the night and deserved all three points, which made it back-to-back victories for Roberto De Zerbi's side following a poor start to the season.

But they were certainly helped on their way by a red card for Palmer with ten minutes to play. Spurs led 1-0 at the time through a Mike Penders own goal, with Mathys Tel putting the seal on the result with a second against the ten men in the 87th minute.

But it was what happened ten minutes before Palmer was actually sent off that caused all the controversy on the night.

Chasing back on Palmer, Fernandes got in a good tackle before slipping to the ground and then dragging the ball back with his hand to stop Palmer continuing his run.

The Chelsea star was furious and, with Fernandes trying to get up, barged into his head, knocking him back down to the ground holding his face. It was an unsightly incident and led to a melee between the players.

Fernandes was shown a yellow card for the handball, with Palmer also given the same colour for what he did by referee Chris Kavanagh. VAR did not intervene to suggest a red card for violent conduct, although fans and pundits alike felt Palmer was very lucky not to be sent off.

Palmer did receive his marching orders in the 80th minute after leaving his foot in on a challenge with Conor Gallagher, picking up ta second yellow card and Chelsea's miserable night was compounded.

Speaking on Sky Sports, co-commentator Gary Neville said: > "Cole Palmer's lost his head in these last few minutes. He was lucky to avoid a red card earlier, and that one is a no-brainer. > > To do that five minutes after the challenge on Fernandes is just silly. He sticks his studs in, he knows exactly what he is doing.Naughty, really naughty.

And now GMS' own former Premier League referee has delivered his verdict on the incident.

Barber, who spent nearly a decade officiating in the top flight said: > "It wouldn't surprise me if he had been sent off. > > "I've always said to you that two yellows need to equal a red. So in the particular outcome of this match, it was yellow and yellow because his second challenge was equally poor. His second challenge was a late challenge, probably with a genuine attempt to make a tackle. > > But his first challenge was just petulant. > > "If he'd been sent off, I wouldn't have been surprised. > > "The only thing sometimes you look at the cynicism of Fernandes on the floor with a deliberate handball which must, if, if you think about that from a player's point of view, it must be infuriating when somebody does something just deliberately so far outside of the laws of the game. > > "But having said that, that doesn't justify his reaction. If he'd got a red card, no one would have argued. > > "Nobody wants anybody to sit on the fence and if I was the referee I would have potentially sent him off to be honest, because it was just a ridiculous reaction."

Confusion spread amongst fans as it was unsure whether Palmer would be available for his side's next Premier League game.

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