Everton's appeal over Keane red card rejected
David Moyes expressed his amazement at the fact that Everton's appeal over the red card shown to Michael Keane for "violent conduct" against Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare during Wednesday's 1-1 draw between the two clubs was turned down.
Moyes was furious at the time that VAR Chris Kavanagh saw fit to intervene and refer the on-field official, Thomas Kirk, to the pitch-side monitor to review the innocuous incident and he was visibly annoyed again during today's press conference at Finch Farm ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup tie against Sunderland.
The club lodged an appeal against Kirk's decision to dismiss the defender but the Premier League's three-man panel refused to either rescind the red card or reduce the three-match suspension that Keane must now serve, starting this weekend.
“I’m hugely disappointed, hugely surprised," Moyes said to Sky Sports correspondent, Vinny O'Connor, "probably more angry with the panel who thought that was the case.
“I have to question the three of them — I know who the three of them are — and I’m absolutely amazed they didn’t in some way overturn it.
“To say it’s violent conduct... We saw last night a game where it’s okay to throw a ball at somebody and pick them up with a bad injury, yet to have a little pull of someone’s hair accidentally and for that to mean a three-game ban is quite extraordinary for me.
“Three games? It shouldn’t even have been any games. But I’m more embarrassed for whoever was on VAR. This was a young referee doing only his third or fourth game and VAR gave him a terrible decision.
“VAR didn’t need to get involved in that at all, looking for the smallest things and probably things I don’t think anyone would have paid any interest in otherwise.”
Reader Responses
Selected thoughts from readers10/01/2026 08:47:47
Yes Steve I think you have summed the situation up perfectly. From being in front of a game which we should have won we finish hanging on with just 9 players on the pitch. I am a big Michael Keane fan, and on Wednesday he scored a terrific gaol, and almost had an equally good second. Then for some silly reason he pulls the guy's hair, embarrassing, silly and totally unprofessional. As for Jack Grealish, he simply asked to be sent off, and whilst I enjoy watching some of his skilful play it's clear why he is playing for us rather than his parent Club, and I hope it's for one season only.
10/01/2026 10:27:33
If Moyes looks silly, then why did the appeal get through out so quickly?
I think Moyes, has got a point, a massive point, and I’m glad he’s also digging out the people who refused to give Keane, a hearing to plead his case.
He also elaborated and said he thought Jack Grealish, was stupid, because he was, but has since been surprised by people showing him footage of other players doing the exact same thing without being punished.
He went even further and also questioned the amount of handballs we have been penalised with whilst never being on the receiving end, when the opposition have done something similar, but if it was me, I’d have went a lot further than indirectly calling Kavanagh, embarrassing, because I’d have felt I was actually in a position to question the man’s integrity.
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09/01/2026 21:19:32
Maybe Moyes should direct some of his anger towards his dimwit players for acting in this manner. Sure the three match ban was ridiculously harsh, but Moyes looks silly claiming Keane 'accidentally' yanked his hair/ponytail!!
As for Grealish, in days gone by, a manager would have fined him a weeks wage for an act as stupid as his, especially with a squad, down to the bare bones.