According to a report by Football London on Sunday, November 8, 2026, Chelsea forward Morgan Rogers has come under criticism after footage emerged appearing to show him making contact with Sunderland defender Trai Hume's head during their Premier League encounter at the Stadium of Light.

Rogers escaped a red card following the incident, which was reviewed by the referee and VAR officials but was not deemed a punishable offence.

The incident occurred during a stoppage in play when Hume was on his hands and knees on the pitch. As Rogers walked past the Sunderland defender, his knee appeared to make contact with Hume's head.

Hume immediately held the back of his head and rolled on the ground, while Rogers extended his left arm before bending down to check on the defender. Sunderland's Thomas Meunier later approached the Chelsea forward to question him about what had happened.

Former Sunderland midfielder Don Hutchison criticised Rogers after watching the replay, suggesting that the contact was intentional and deserved a red card.

"He knows what he's doing there," Hutchison said.

However, his commentary partner, Joe Speight, explained that neither the referee nor VAR considered the incident an offence that warranted disciplinary action.

Hutchison disagreed with that assessment, maintaining that the Chelsea forward should have been sent off.

The footage also generated reactions among football supporters on social media, with several questioning why Rogers was allowed to remain on the pitch.

One fan wrote: "He 100% meant this".

Another supporter questioned the consistency of disciplinary decisions by comparing the incident with Max Dowman's red card.

However, neither the footage nor the reactions from supporters establish that Rogers deliberately targeted Hume, and the match officials took no disciplinary action against the Chelsea player.

The incident also has a connection to a previous meeting between the two clubs last season. During a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light in September, Hume made a strong challenge on Rogers, who was representing Aston Villa at the time.

Hume escaped a booking despite missing the ball before making contact with Rogers. Sunderland later shared footage of the tackle on Instagram with the caption "still got the ball".

Rogers subsequently reposted the video and criticised the decision to celebrate what he regarded as a dangerous challenge.

The latest confrontation has provided another talking point following Chelsea's disappointing defeat, with questions being raised about how the officials handled the incident involving the two players.