Jack Grealish was one of two Everton players sent off against Wolves but news of Michael Keane’s failed appeal has sparked ‘disappointment and surprise’ from the Toffees
Everton and England star Jack Grealish has slammed the decision to uphold Michael Keane’s suspension following his red card against Wolves. The defender was sent off during the showdown, which ended 1-1, for violent conduct for a suspected hair pull of striker Tolu Arokodare.
Following the intervention from the video assistant referee (VAR), Thomas Kirk brandished a red card after reviewing the replays. Keane and Arokodare both went up for an aerial duel, with the defender having a hold of the 25-year-old before heading away the danger, with play brought back and Everton being reduced to 10 men.
The Toffees saw their appeal against Keane’s three-match ban upheld by the Football Association (FA).
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Everton released a club statement across their channels and Grealish was among those to show their disgust at the decision as he replied: “Embarrassing.”
David Moyes‘ side expressed their disappointment at the decision as they felt the ban was “clearly excessive” after the majority of the three-person panel ruled that the sanction should stand.
Everton argued that the incident between Keane and the Wolves striker did not meet the threshold for violent conduct, as defined in the rules, further asserting their point that it was not “forceful nor intentional”.
The Scottish tactician continued to vent his anger ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie against Sunderland. He said: “I’m hugely disappointed, hugely surprised — 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 OK 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.”
Everton finished the game with nine men after Grealish was sent off for a second bookable offence minutes later.
The Manchester City loanee saw his frustrations boil over as he picked up two quickfire yellow cards, the second coming when he sarcastically applauded the decision from the match official after he won a foul.
Moyes was forced to bite his tongue to refrain from further criticism of the match officials, in a bid to avoid a sanction from the FA, having been booked for leaving his technical area on Wednesday.
But he highlighted that there have been other instances of unsportsmanlike behaviour directed towards officials that have gone unpunished. Moyes said: “I didn’t want to discuss any of the others because they have all gone in the past.
“But now you bring them up it makes me think, ‘By the way, maybe there have been a few more than should have gone against us.’
“I’m the first one to say Jack Grealish was wrong but since then I’ve been shown other players who have clapped the referee and it’s not resulted in a booking or a sending-off.
“I can’t talk too much or they will be fining me for saying something out of order. But if they want us to come on your programmes and talk, surely we should be able to speak the truth and how we feel.”
