Palmer should have been sent off for Fernandes barge - panel

KMI Panel ruled Palmer should have been sent off for violent conduct against Fernandes in the 70th minute, but VAR correctly did not intervene.

Cole Palmer should have received a straight red card for violent conduct in Chelsea's 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, the Premier League Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has ruled.

The England international was cautioned by referee Chris Kavanagh in the 70th minute after barging into Spurs midfielder Mateus Fernandes with such force that it caused the Portugal international's head to snap back. The KMI Panel voted 3:2 that Kavanagh should have shown a red card on the field. However, the panel unanimously supported VAR John Brooks's decision not to intervene.

Palmer was subsequently sent off for a second yellow card in the 80th minute for a foul on Jan Paul van Hecke, receiving a one-match ban. Had he been sent off for violent conduct instead, he would have missed Chelsea's 2-0 victory over Manchester United and this weekend's trip to Sunderland.