Former Manchester United defender and football pundit Gary Neville has criticised referee Chris Kavanagh following Chelsea’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Neville believes Chelsea midfielder Morgan Rogers was fortunate to escape a red card after making a dangerous late challenge on former Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher during the closing stages of the London derby.
Neville Questions the Referee’s Decision
Tottenham delivered an impressive performance to secure a memorable victory over their London rivals. However, Chelsea’s poor discipline became a major talking point as tensions increased towards the end of the match.
Rogers received a yellow card for his late challenge on Gallagher, but Neville felt the punishment was insufficient.
Speaking during Sky Sports’ live commentary, Neville suggested that the challenge deserved a straight red card and criticised the Chelsea players for losing their composure.
He also urged Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso to take control of his players after their discipline deteriorated during the encounter.
Cole Palmer Also Escaped an Earlier Red Card
Neville also questioned why Cole Palmer was not sent off earlier in the match after an incident involving Tottenham midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
Palmer reacted angrily when Fernandes was on the ground and made contact with him. The referee showed the Chelsea forward a yellow card, although Neville believed the incident could have justified a straight red.
Palmer was eventually sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a subsequent challenge on Gallagher.
His dismissal left Chelsea with 10 men during the closing stages and further compounded their problems.
Tottenham Punish Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
While Chelsea struggled to maintain their composure, Tottenham took advantage of their opponents’ difficulties to claim all three points.
Spurs opened the scoring when Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders punched a corner into his own net under pressure from Tottenham defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
Mathys Tel then produced an excellent individual effort to score Tottenham’s second goal, sealing a deserved 2-0 victory for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
The result represented a significant achievement for Tottenham, who had struggled to win at Stamford Bridge in recent years.
Alonso Faces Questions Over Chelsea’s Discipline
Following the defeat, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso acknowledged that his players needed to improve their emotional control and decision-making during difficult moments.
Palmer’s dismissal will also have consequences, as he is set to miss Chelsea’s Carabao Cup trip to Liverpool.
For Tottenham supporters, the victory was particularly satisfying, with Spurs dominating important areas of the game and leaving their London rivals frustrated.
Neville’s comments have added another talking point to an already heated derby, with questions being raised about Chelsea’s discipline and whether the officials made the correct decisions during several controversial incidents.
