According to a report by Football London on Saturday October 17, 2026, Former Premier League referee Mike Dean believes Chelsea were fortunate to avoid a red card during their 2-0 victory over Everton on Saturday, following a controversial first-half challenge involving Morgan Rogers and James Garner.

The match at Hill Dickinson Stadium featured several heated moments, beginning when Everton's Harrison Armstrong received a yellow card for a strong tackle on Josh Acheampong. James Tarkowski and Rogers were also booked after a confrontation between the pair.

However, the biggest controversy arrived in the 43rd minute when Rogers and Garner contested a fierce 50-50 challenge. The incident attracted attention from supporters and pundits, with differing opinions emerging over whether either player deserved a red card.

Rogers slid into the challenge with his studs initially pointing down, but his foot rolled over the ball before making contact with Garner's shin. Garner also appeared to make contact with Rogers during the committed challenge.

Referee Paul Tierney allowed play to continue without issuing a card, while VAR reviewed the incident. Dean disagreed with the decision and argued that Rogers' challenge should have resulted in a dismissal.

Speaking on Sky Sports, the former referee said: “He doesn’t get the ball, Rogers, and catches him with his studs inside Garner’s knee, and I think it’s a straight red.”

Dean's assessment suggested that the point of contact and Rogers' studs were the main reasons he considered the challenge worthy of a straight red card. A dismissal would have significantly affected Chelsea's chances of securing victory.

Nevertheless, the incident remained debatable, particularly because Rogers appeared to touch the ball before colliding with Garner. The possibility of a second yellow card for a reckless challenge was another aspect of the discussion.

Former Everton and Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott offered a different interpretation, suggesting that the challenge was a committed contest rather than an act of malicious play.

Speaking on TNT Sports, Lescott said: “I liked it. Both players were committed.”

He continued: “I don’t think anyone is malicious in there. The only question here is, ‘Does Jimmy kick out a little bit?’ For me, the right decision was made. No yellow cards.”

The contrasting opinions highlighted the difficulty of judging forceful challenges during competitive matches. While Dean believed Rogers should have been dismissed, Lescott supported the referee's decision to allow both players to continue.