Furious Moyes brands Keane red card 'ridiculous'
David Moyes carried his anger at the officials' decision to send Michael Keane off for 'violent conduct' during Everton's 1-1 draw with Wolves into his post-match interviews, saying the player should never have been dismissed.
Keane was shown a straight red card for "violent conduct" after Video Assistant Referee, Chris Kavanagh, had recommended that the on-field official, Thomas Kirk, review replays on the pitch-side monitor for an alleged tug on Tolu Arokodare’s hair.
It reduced Everton, who had already thrown away a precious one-goal lead given to them by Keane's 17th-minute goal, to 10 men with seven minutes to go and in the 90th, Jack Grealish was also sent off, this time for a second incident of dissent towards Kirk.
“It is not violent, it is not forceful and it is not deliberate so all of those things I have said mean it shouldn’t have been a red card,” Moyes raged afterwards, citing an incident involving Chelsea defender Marc Cucurella last summer's club World Cup.
“I think it was a really poor decision to send him to the screen in the first place. Cucurella got his hair pulled – violent conduct, a deliberate action, no problem with that.
“But this was in the game, on a ball coming up and unless you have played the game you might not understand. I have been a centre-half and there is no way I am jumping to out-jump a big centre-forward and think ‘By the way I am going to out-jump him and at the same time I am going to pull his hair’.
“I don’t know anyone on the planet who is good enough to think that way when they are jumping up. I thought it was a ridiculous decision by the referee but more by VAR. I thought the ridiculous bit came from VAR.
“It can’t be violent conduct for that. I just can’t see how that warrants a sending-off. Why would that be a red card and we’re letting other things go. Ridiculous! Hopeless!”
Moyes's frustration with the decision to dismiss Grealish was more with the player himself. Asked if he felt the 30-year-old should be spoken to about his petulance, the manager replied:
"Yes, I agree - and I already have done.”
Unless the club lodge an appeal and are successful, Keane will be missing from a squad already down to the bare bones for three games. Grealish will miss one.
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers08/01/2026 07:50:45
Players going up for areal duels have been grabbing each others arms, shoulders, Shirts and necks since football was invented. Is it violent conduct ? of course it isn't. In fact it helps prevent numerous injuries.
When two players are coming in from different directions throwing their full body weight at each other mid air. The only real protection against potentially career ending awkward landings is an aerial wrestle. it gives both players a chance to regain balance and land safely.
The notion that people with Dreadlocks, pony tails, or even hair extensions should be afforded some sort of extra protection because opponents cant grab their shirt is absurd.
I don't do ref bashing as a rule, but when I'm standing in front of St Peter and he asks me what was the most fuck-witted, attention-seeking, decision I witnessed while I was here on earth. This one's almost certainly going to get a mention. It was not a yank of the hair to stop the opponent getting off the ground. It was a grab. one which the opponent wasnt even aware of, when both players were on the way down.
Violent conduct ????? Fuck me!...I fear that poor Wolves boy may never recover
08/01/2026 09:48:40
Darren, I suspect the Wolves striker will have defenders chirping into his ear about that for many games to come now.
08/01/2026 14:31:21
The thing that gets me is that people are saying Michael Keane, was stupid.
When I read Darren’s description of players going up for aerial duels, it definitely makes a lot of sense to me and if there was any real malice in Keane’s actions then I’m sure he would have also gave those dreadlocks a little shake when he landed?
The game is getting slowly taken away from us bit by bit, and instead of people saying Keane was stupid, I’d just like to see the pressure put on the very cynical and sinister VAR referee, for the things he has allegedly got wrong when officiating Everton, over the years, because there’s plenty of history to be found.
I said yesterday that watching O’Brien, playing fullback was making me feel that I’d be better off watching Everton, on the television and giving my ticket away, but an even bigger problem is the way the game is getting cynically, subjectively and objectively officiated these days, and it’s completely turning me off watching premier league football, if I’m being honest.
They say it doesn’t pay to have a go at the state of the refereeing, but sometimes enough has got to be enough, because if it carries on then I’m certain that the EPL, has already started the process of eating itself up from within. Maybe I’m wrong, maybe it’s just me?
08/01/2026 16:07:43
Tony
Did you catch Ell Bretlands article "Dull as Dishwater" a couple of weeks ago ?
I am amazed at the number of people who have told me how much that piece resonated.
08/01/2026 17:08:45
I’m sure I put up a post on that thread saying something along the lines of how it should be put into the biggest mainstream media websites, because of how much ELL’s post seemed to be resonating with a lot of people I speak to Darren.
It’s probably us old timers, (legacy fans to the Yanks) who are feeling like this the most. My brother still likes going to certain away games, (he loves a good day out and a bevy with his mates) but doesn’t seem to enjoy going to our home games anymore, and even my son, who is a lot younger, seems to be getting more and more angry with the way the game has gone.
His text last night simply said… it’s fuckin shite now footy, isn’t it, and whilst I blame myself for getting him into it, I suppose nothing could ever replace all those away games we used to go when he was younger.
Maybe this is why so many people are reluctant to call it a day for good, but I have definitely sensed a change in a lot of match going Evertonians.
09/01/2026 08:28:52
Tony, it's not just matchgoing fans, we desperately look for inspiration from players, manager or owners when in truth there isn't any. Nothing to believe in. Do any of us actually believe that Moyes will take us to the next level? Unless like some think, the next level is mid table survival. Does anyone believe we don't need at least 7 players of a much better quality to challenge for Europe or God forbid actually do something when we get there?
We currently have half a squad, at least, who are championship level at best. That's how far this club has fallen.
So who, how and when is going to inspire you, your son or any of the other 50 odd thousand matchgoers in turning mediocrity into quality?
It starts with the owners communication their expectations, they should be stated, clearly to everyone so we all know where we are going and how we will get there.
They set the expectations of management, purchase of players and internal growth in the academy. We may have a wonderful new home, new owners, but what's the plan? Fans are the lifeblood of the game, if the owners want to maximize their investment, they have to commit to playing exciting, match winning football. More fans more money. It's not rocket science.
I feel we are hanging on by threads of hope, but increasingly disillusioned by the lack of quality, consistency or inspiration.
We want to believe again.
09/01/2026 15:57:11
As usual much astute observation revealed & thank you (again) Christine for drawing many strands together).
It is increasingly apparent that the actual 'match' is just 50% of the debate after virtually every game, especially at home.
Other topics which should only qualify as peripheral occupy our thoughts equally.
Refereeing decisions, VAR referrals, fixture alterations & team selection contribute to the same degree.
This wasn't the case even 5 seasons ago & should not be so now.
How the game has declined!
Once a few turn their back on the game as a live attraction droves will follow.
To all intents and purposes I am there already.
Sorry for the pessimism.
09/01/2026 16:41:14
I mentioned this on Toffeeweb ( sorry Lyndon), but have a look at Arsenal's bench last night, then tell me we aren't miles away from competing for trophies
09/01/2026 17:08:35
For anybody who doubts the direction the PL is going just look at who clubs like Chelsea and Man Utd are attracting to coach them.
The bubble's bursting and we should all be worried about what the likes of Masters and co will do to protect their own interests.
09/01/2026 22:10:55
Without hope we have nothing Christine, and that’s the way it is slowly starting to feel when you see where Everton, would have been sitting in the table, if we had won our last two games.
Steady the ship, steady the fucking ship, David Moyes and TFG, have apparently steadied the ship.
But where is the voice that is speaking to the fans? where is the ambition? Because there is no time like the present in professional football, and Everton, have lost a great chance to push on because everything seems very quiet behind the scenes, as we continue to watch our team struggling to attack, whilst playing a central defender at fullback.
Add Your Thoughts
Only registered users of Evertonia can participate in discussions.
Or Join as Evertonia Member — it takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your thoughts on artices across the site.
08/01/2026 06:15:55
David Moyes, you are wrong. I have played the game too. You don’t accidentally pull someone’s hair. It was deliberate and you know that. Anything else is a shoddy excuse and attempts to gloss the appalling football offered by Everton. We won’t be the only squad in the league to be stretched at this time. Are we the only team to lose players to Afcon?
There was more football ability in the team lying at the bottom of the league than us. Brentford too showed they are light years ahead of us in terms of quality.
A brand new stadium but ancient ideas and tactics. Awful. I’m seriously doubting TFG’s ambitions.