Mark Clattenburg and Mike Dean, along with David Moyes, are both in agreement that Morgan Rogers should have been sent off against Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday
Everton's English defender #06 James Tarkowski (R) and Chelsea's English midfielder #17 Morgan Rogers (L) clash during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on October 17, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
Everton's English defender #06 James Tarkowski (R) and Chelsea's English midfielder #17 Morgan Rogers (L) clash during the English Premier League football match between Everton and Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, north west England on October 17, 2026. (Photo by PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. /
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Everton's James Tarkowski and Chelsea's Morgan Rogers clash during Saturday's feisty encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium (Image: PETER POWELL / AFP via Getty Images)
While Everton were ultimately beaten fair and square by Chelsea at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday as they went down to their first defeat of the season, the outcome may have been different had Morgan Rogers been shown a second yellow card in the game's big flashpoint.
Blues boss David Moyes suggested the Chelsea star could have been sent off after a crunching 44th-minute collision with his England team-mate James Garner.
Rogers was already on a booking after clashing with James Tarkowski but referee Paul Tierney, who had earlier enraged the Everton team and supporters by cautioning Harrison Armstrong, chose to let the incident go unpunished.
But former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg believes Tierney got it wrong, insisting the "reckless" challenge should have warranted a second yellow.
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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.
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"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.
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"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."
Another ex-Premier League official, Mike Dean, shares the same viewpoint as Clattenburg, but actually believes Rogers could have been shown a straight red card.
Dean, speaking while on punditry duty for Sky Sports Soccer Saturday, said: "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."
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 17: Morgan Rogers of Chelsea and James Garner of Everton react after a challenge during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Chelsea FC at Hill Dickinson Stadium on October 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Morgan Rogers of Chelsea and James Garner of Everton are down injured after the big flashpoint of the first half (Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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After the feisty contest, which saw seven bookings, a furious Garner called on Premier League referees to ditch their Ref Cams and just focus on officiating matches.
He told 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.”
Moyes, meanwhile, said in his post-match press conference after the 2-0 loss: "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.”
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 make the trip to defending Premier League champions Arsenal.
Everton boss David Moyes