Palmer Escapes Three-Match Ban as Panel Rules He Should Have Seen Red Against Spurs

Cole Palmer has escaped a three-match suspension after the Premier League's Key Match Incidents panel ruled he should have been sent off for violent conduct during Chelsea's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham on October 24. The panel, made up of five independent members including three former players or coaches, a league representative and a refereeing representative, voted 3-2 that Palmer's challenge on Tottenham midfielder Mateus Fernandes warranted a straight red card, describing it as clear contact to the head carried out with excessive force. Palmer was booked in the 71st minute after the clash with Fernandes and dismissed nine minutes later for a second yellow card following a tackle on former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher. Had referee Chris Kavanagh shown a direct red for the first incident, Palmer would have faced a three-game ban, ruling him out of league fixtures against Manchester United and Sunderland as well as a cup tie. The panel was unanimous, 5-0, that VAR official John Brooks was right not to intervene, because the original yellow card did not meet the threshold for an overturn. Palmer returned for the following match and scored a penalty in the 2-0 win over Manchester United, his 50th Premier League goal for Chelsea. The same panel also ruled Tottenham should have been awarded a penalty when Moises Caicedo collided with Dominic Solanke. The ruling comes a day before Thomas Tuchel names his next England squad, with Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain ahead.