Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has delivered a scathing assessment of the officiating in Everton’s clash with Chelsea, insisting that Morgan Rogers should have been sent off for a second bookable offence that referee Paul Tierney failed to punish a decision that ultimately shaped the outcome of the match.
Rogers, already carrying a yellow card after an earlier flashpoint with Everton defender James Tarkowski around the 35th minute, lunged into a 50-50 challenge with James Garner shortly before half-time. The Chelsea midfielder went in studs-up, off the ground, and caught Garner high on the shin. Tierney, who had a clear view of the incident, waved play on. VAR reviewed the challenge but declined to intervene, and Rogers survived to play the second half.
THAT’S A STRAIGHT RED CARD OR A SECOND YELLOW ALL DAY.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher was unequivocal in his assessment, arguing that the failure was not a VAR error but a straightforward on-field mistake by the referee
“For me, that’s a second yellow card. He’s already been booked, he goes in with studs showing, off the ground, and catches Garner on the shin. The referee has a clear view. You don’t need VAR for that it’s a bookable offence all day long.”
Gallagher went further, challenging the growing tendency to defer to VAR on decisions that should be made in real time:
“This isn’t a case of VAR needing to intervene. The referee should have seen it and dealt with it. When a player is already on a yellow and makes a challenge like that, you have to be strong and show the second yellow. He didn’t, and Rogers stays on the pitch.”
He also highlighted the inconsistency in how similar challenges are treated across the league, noting that identical tackles had resulted in second yellow cards in other matches this season a point that will resonate with Everton supporters who feel their side has been on the wrong end of marginal calls.
The cost of the decision
The reprieve proved costly for Everton. Just 44 seconds into the second half, Rogers was heavily involved in the move that led to Pedro Neto’s opening goal a turning point in a match Everton had competed well in up to that point. Had Tierney produced the second yellow, Chelsea would have been down to ten men for the entire second half, and the complexion of the game would have been entirely different.
Everton manager David Moyes was unequivocal in his post-match press conference:
“I think that challenge should have resulted in a second yellow card. But it didn’t happen.”
Moyes stopped short of accusing the referee of bias but made clear his frustration at the inconsistency, noting that his players had been booked for challenges of a similar nature earlier in the season.
Everton fans react
Everton supporters were furious, taking to social media in their droves to vent their frustration at both Tierney and the VAR team:
· “Rogers should be off. Studs up on Garner’s shin, already booked how is that not a second yellow?”
· “Tierney bottled it. Simple as that. Clear view, no excuse.”
· “Gallagher’s right for once. That’s a sending off every day of the week.”
· “So Rogers stays on, then sets up the goal 44 seconds into the second half. You couldn’t write it.”
· “It’s the inconsistency that kills you. Booked for nothing in the first half, then that goes unpunished.”
The reaction reflects a broader frustration among Everton fans, who have watched their side battle relegation in recent seasons and feel that key marginal decisions have repeatedly gone against them. For many, Gallagher’s verdict was validation of what they had seen in real time.
The bigger picture: consistency and the second yellow problem
The incident adds to the growing scrutiny over consistency in disciplinary decisions, particularly around second yellow cards an area where VAR’s hands are largely tied. Under current protocols, VAR can only intervene for straight red card offences (serious foul play, violent conduct, etc.), not for second bookable offences. That means a referee’s failure to show a second yellow is effectively unreviewable, even when replays show a clear error.
Gallagher’s comments will intensify the debate over whether that protocol needs revisiting. Critics argue that second yellow decisions are among the most consequential in football a single call can change the entire trajectory of a match yet they remain the least reviewable. Supporters of the current system counter that expanding VAR’s remit would slow the game down and undermine the referee’s authority.
The PGMOL is unlikely to issue a public statement on the incident, but refereeing chief Howard Webb may address it on the next episode of Match Officials: Mic’d Up. Tierney, meanwhile, is expected to face no immediate sanction, though his performance will be reviewed as part of the standard post-match assessment process.
For Everton, the frustration is familiar. For Rogers and Chelsea, it was a lucky escape one that may have decided the match.
