Former Premier League referees Mark Clattenburg and Mike Dean have both said Chelsea's Morgan Rogers should have been sent off during Saturday's feisty Premier League encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium, where Everton suffered their first defeat of the season.
Rogers was already on a booking after clashing with James Tarkowski when he collided with England team-mate James Garner in the 44th minute. Referee Paul Tierney, who had earlier angered Everton by cautioning Harrison Armstrong, let the incident go unpunished.
Former officials criticise decision
Speaking on So Near, Yet So VAR, Clattenburg said: "This is a yellow card if it was identified by the referee. If we're analysing it, like we see it now, Rogers is very lucky not to receive a second yellow."
He added: "What we have to remember is that VAR can't, even with the retrospective power, (and) doesn't have the power to issue a second yellow card where the referee hasn't. This is a clear example, which is the frustration because Everton will argue Chelsea should be down to 10 players here, and in my opinion, should've been if the referee had seen the foul correctly. In the cold light of day, when you analyse this challenge, this is a clear foul and a clear reckless challenge because of the speed, there was some force and a clear contact on the knee."
Mike Dean, speaking on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, went further, saying: "I think it's a minimum yellow. I called red straight away. When you see the angle we've seen now, he doesn't get the ball, Rogers. He might've just flicked it, but he catches him with his stud just on the inside of Garner's knee. I think it's a straight red me, I really do. I just think it's not a good tackle at all."
Garner and Moyes weigh in
After the match, which saw seven bookings, Garner criticised the use of Ref Cams, telling the ECHO: "I would love to speak on the referees, but I would probably get fined. All this camera stuff on their heads and all that stuff in my opinion, you need to keep out of the game, just let referees ref it and stop making it about them. That's all I've got to say."
Everton boss David Moyes, whose side lost 2-0, said in his post-match press conference: "If our football in this country is not going to allow them (Armstrong's challenge on Josh Acheampong) then I don't know. We've got referees who we want to be the best in Europe, or think they're the best, because they let things go. I thought it looked a half-decent tackle. Maybe somebody might tell me I'm wrong or tell me differently, but I wasn't sure that it was the right decision. I was disappointed with the decision at the time. I had a wee look at the Morgan Rogers tackle on Jimmy (Garner), which, maybe some might have said something different, and I think that might have made a second yellow, it wasn't the case."
Impact on the match
Two second-half goals from Pedro Neto ended Everton's eight-match unbeaten start to the campaign in all competitions. The Blues return to action on Saturday when they travel to defending Premier League champions Arsenal.
