According to a report by London Evening Standard on Saturday, October 24, 2026, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has criticised referee Chris Kavanagh, arguing that Morgan Rogers should have been sent off for a late challenge during Chelsea’s 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham controlled much of the London derby, dominating possession and putting Chelsea under considerable pressure throughout the encounter. Xabi Alonso’s side struggled to cope with their opponents and endured a frustrating evening at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s problems increased when midfielder Cole Palmer was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a disciplinary offence. The dismissal marked the first red card of his professional career and further weakened his team’s chances of recovering in the match.

Palmer’s suspension will affect Chelsea’s upcoming Carabao Cup fixture rather than their important Premier League meeting with Manchester United next weekend. Nevertheless, his absence remains a concern for manager Alonso.

Although Neville accepted the decision to dismiss Palmer, he questioned why Rogers escaped a similar punishment for a challenge on Conor Gallagher. The former Manchester United defender believed the Aston Villa attacker had committed a serious foul that deserved a red card.

In the closing moments of the match, Rogers made a reckless challenge on Gallagher, catching the midfielder around the ankles without making a convincing attempt to win the ball. Neville expressed his frustration with the incident while providing live commentary on Sky Sports.

“In my opinion, that's a red card,” Neville said, describing Rogers’s challenge as “ludicrous” and suggesting that the referee should have taken stronger action.

With Palmer already dismissed earlier in the game, the incident raised further questions about consistency in refereeing decisions. Neville’s assessment suggested that Rogers should have faced the same disciplinary consequences as the Chelsea midfielder.

The controversy also highlighted Chelsea’s continuing concerns over discipline, particularly during important matches. The club have repeatedly been affected by costly disciplinary incidents, and another potential dismissal would have brought their total number of red cards since the beginning of last season to ten.

Following their defeat to Tottenham, Chelsea must now address their disciplinary problems and improve their performances as they prepare for their next fixtures.

Alonso will be hoping his players respond positively to the setback, regain their form and avoid further disciplinary issues that could damage the team’s chances in upcoming competitions.