Everton Disappointed by Appeal Rejection for Keane’s Red Card

Everton faced a setback as the Football Association panel rejected their appeal concerning defender Michael Keane’s red card received during the recent draw against Wolves. The Premier League club expressed their surprise and disappointment regarding the decision.

In an official statement released on Friday, Everton described the three-game suspension imposed on Keane as “clearly excessive.” The 32-year-old center-back was sent off for pulling the hair of Wolves’ Tolu Arokodare, a decision made after a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

As a result of the suspension, Keane will miss Everton’s upcoming FA Cup match against Sunderland, along with Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa and Leeds.

During a news conference shortly after the club’s statement, Everton manager David Moyes voiced his frustration with the three-person FA panel responsible for the ruling, expressing embarrassment for the VAR team who prompted the on-field referee, Tom Kirk, to review the incident. He also cited a similar incident from a recent match between Arsenal and Liverpool as a comparison.

Moyes stated, “Hugely disappointed. Hugely surprised. I’m probably more angry with the panel who thought that was the case. I have to question the three. I know who they are, and I’m amazed they did not overturn it.”

He further remarked, “We saw last night that it’s deemed acceptable to throw a ball at someone or to push an injured player off the field. Yet a slight, accidental tug on someone’s hair warrants a three-game ban, which I find extraordinary.”

Regarding the punishment’s severity, Moyes added, “Three games for what shouldn’t have been any games. I feel embarrassed for the VAR officials involved. This is a young referee in only his third or fourth match, and VAR led him to make a poor decision. They should not have intervened at all.”

Moyes expressed concern that the officials were overly focused on minor details, stating, “I don’t think anyone would have noticed it had it not been called out.”

While hair-pulling is not explicitly outlined in the laws of the game, it falls under the category of violent conduct due to its nature, which is not instinctive during a ball challenge.

Everton maintained, “We appealed firmly believing the incident did not meet the threshold for violent conduct as defined by the rules, and that the action was neither forceful nor intentional. Our appeal also aimed to support Michael Keane, who exemplifies the highest ethical standards in the sport and had never faced dismissal for violent conduct prior to this incident. We firmly believe that the severity of the three-game suspension is excessive, and we are surprised and disappointed that our appeal has been rejected.”

BBC Sport has reached out to the FA for further comment.