Former Premier League referee Graham Barber has given his verdict on the controversial incident involving Chelsea star Cole Palmer and Tottenham midfielder Mateus Fernandes during Saturday’s London derby.
Tottenham secured a crucial 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, earning back-to-back wins under Roberto De Zerbi after a difficult start to the season. However, Palmer’s actions during the match sparked heated debate among fans and football pundits.
The controversy began when Fernandes tackled Palmer before falling to the ground and deliberately using his hand to stop the ball. An angry Palmer reacted by barging into Fernandes’ head, sending him back to the ground while holding his face.
Both players received yellow cards from referee Chris Kavanagh, but VAR did not recommend a red card for Palmer’s reaction, leaving many supporters questioning the decision.
Barber believes Palmer was fortunate to remain on the pitch after the incident, insisting that the Chelsea midfielder’s reaction was unacceptable, even if Fernandes’ deliberate handball was frustrating.
The former referee explained that he would not have been surprised if Palmer had received a straight red card for his actions. He also stressed that Fernandes’ behaviour did not justify Palmer’s aggressive response.
Palmer eventually received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Conor Gallagher, leaving Chelsea with ten men. Mathys Tel then scored Tottenham’s second goal in the 87th minute to seal the victory.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville also criticised Palmer, suggesting the Chelsea star had lost his composure and was fortunate to escape punishment for the earlier incident.
Do you think Cole Palmer deserved a straight red card for his clash with Mateus Fernandes? 🤔👇
