Everton defender Michael Keane will serve a three-match ban for pulling striker Tolu Arokodare’s hair in Wednesday’s Premier League clash with Wolverhampton. The referee gave him a red card after consulting the video. Everton appealed, but the Football Association’s commission upheld the punishment today. According to the club, the three-match ban is an unreasonable penalty.
Keane, who opened the scoring in the 17th minute, was sent off with seven minutes remaining at 1-1. In a head-to-head duel, he pulled Arokodare from behind by his braided hair.
Everton coach David Moyes criticized the decision of the referees and the committee. “I’m terribly disappointed and surprised. I’m probably mainly angry with the commission, which thinks it was something to solve. I have to ask the three. I know them and I’m surprised they didn’t throw it off the table somehow,” the coach said at a press conference before Saturday’s FA Cup game against Sunderland. Keane will miss this game as well as the league fixtures against Aston Villa and Leeds.
Everton have confirmed in a statement that they have seen their appeal for Michael Keane’s red card rejected by an FA panel, meaning the defender will miss their next three fixtures ???????? pic.twitter.com/1Oev728o6M
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 9, 2026
“He got three games for something for which there shouldn’t be any distance. What bothers me the most is the VAR, whoever was there. It was whistled by a young referee for whom it was only the third or fourth game and VAR will do something so terrible. They should not have interfered in it at all.” said Moyes, whose team ended up drawing at home with the bottom team in the table. Wolverhampton defender Ladislav Krejčí left the field in the 67th minute after hitting his tailbone after a header.
Everton finished the game in nine as in the 90th minute Jack Grealish ironically applauded the referee and received his second yellow card in four minutes.
