Palmer should have been sent off for Fernandes barge - panel

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.

Palmer did so 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 KMI Panel unanimously supported the decision of the VAR, John Brooks, not to intervene.

The majority of the five members of the KMI Panel felt it was "clear contact to the head as well as unnecessary, dangerous and made with excessive force".

Two panellists viewed the action as "aggressive with no excessive force", supporting the booking.

Palmer was sent off for a second yellow card in the 80th minute for a foul on Jan Paul van Hecke, which the KMI Panel supported 4:1.

The midfielder received a one-match ban for his dismissal, missing the Carabao Cup exit at Liverpool.

Had he been sent off for violent conduct, he would also have been suspended for Saturday's 2-0 victory over Manchester United, in which he scored a penalty, and this weekend's trip to Sunderland.

The KMI Panel also voted 3:2 that Dominic Solanke should have been awarded an 85th minute penalty for a foul by Moises Caicedo, but with a 3:2 vote supporting no VAR intervention.

The majority felt that "Caicedo was persistently holding Solanke whilst facing away from the ball and impacting the ability of the opponent to progress".