David Moyes says he is ’embarrassed’ for VAR officials as the appeal for the hair-pull in the game between Everton and Wolves gets rejected.
Moyes expressed spoke of his surprise after the Football Association rejected the club’s appeal against Michael Keane’s red card and three-match ban for pulling Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare’s hair during the 1-1 draw.
Everton said in a statement that the incident was neither forceful nor intentional, and also mentioned Keane’s clean disciplinary record, calling the three-game suspension “clearly excessive.”
Moyes then said in his press conference that he was “hugely disappointed,” “angry,” and “absolutely amazed” at the panel’s decision.
▶️ David Moyes reacts to Michael Keane’s suspension appeal being rejected, and Hwang Hee-chan’s challenge on Harrison Armstrong that did not result in a red card. pic.twitter.com/766CGkEobK
— Everton (@Everton) January 9, 2026
🗣 “Hugely disappointed, hugely surprised” 😲
David Moyes is “absolutely amazed” by the FA disciplinary panel’s decision to not overturn Michael Keane’s red card against Wolves 🟥🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/I3VnXA8pmG
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 9, 2026
CLUB STATEMENT:
Everton Football Club is disappointed to report that an appeal against Michael Keane’s dismissal in Wednesday’s Premier League fixture with Wolves has been rejected by an FA panel.
Whilst the majority ruling of the three-person panel to uphold the dismissal and three-game suspension is a decision we must accept, we are nevertheless surprised.
We appealed in the firm belief the incident did not meet the threshold for violent conduct as defined in the rules, and that the action was neither forceful nor intentional.
Our appeal was also lodged in support of Michael Keane, a player who plays the game with the highest ethical standards and who, prior to Wednesday, had never been dismissed for violent conduct in his career. It is our firm belief that the severity of the three-game suspension is clearly excessive, and we are surprised and disappointed that this point of appeal has also been rejected.
Michael’s suspension begins immediately, and he will now not be available for our forthcoming fixtures against Sunderland, Aston Villa and Leeds United.
Moyes vents fury at ‘ridiculous’ red card after nine-man Everton hold on to draw with Wolves
Moyes 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.
“I can only say what I think. 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, then surely we should be allowed to speak the truth and say how we feel. That’s how I feel.
“It sounds like inconsistencies, but I have not got a big problem with it. I want them to do their job the best they can.
“But, if that’s the best they can do at the moment, then I think they’re in a difficult position.”
📱Jack Grealish’s comment on Everton’s Instagram post on Keane’s red card appeal being rejected pic.twitter.com/EIgssBvjTb
— 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 (@EvertonNewsFeed) January 9, 2026
Moyes said although he felt Grealish ‘was wrong’ to applaud the referee, he has since been made aware of other footballers making a similar offence and going unpunished.
he added: “I didn’t want to discuss any of the others because they’re all gone and in the past, but now you bring them up, it makes me think there maybe have been a few more that have gone against us. The recent ones are hard to take.
“I thought Jack Grealish was wrong, but since then I have been shown other players who have clapped the referee, and it has not returned in another booking or a sending off.
“We have seen handballs that we have not been given as well. Now you mention it, I do think there have been a few [decisions against Everton].”
Twitter users reacted as David Moyes says he was ’embarrassed’ for VAR officials as the hair-pull red card appeal gets rejected…
@Theyeartoforget: One challenge was a possible long term injury and another was a bit of a tug on someones hair yet the latter gets a red card 😄
@jamiewalters23: Nonsense, basing the whole argument on “accidentally” grabbing & pulling down someone’s hair. Hwang challenge got a yellow. Probably needs a visit to the memory clinic. Such a shame Everton voted in favour of VAR, where Wolves were the only club to vote against. Made your bed.
@LittleMatt83: Howard Webb, Chris Kavanagh and Craig Pawson are all inept, with inflated egos, and have set the standards for the whole @FA_PGMOL. All should be removed from post.
@ChrisMacfie: Well said David Moyes, refereeing in this league is as bad as it’s ever been, no consistency with decisions & var is proving that, players can’t even speak to a ref now without getting warned & then booked, Chris Kavanagh, Craig Pawson & Anthony Taylor are the worst, cunts
@WatchedToffee: Can’t disagree with ANY of this. I personally thought at the time it was a red card just because you can’t do that. Violent conduct and a three game ban though, especially when you look at Hwang’s ‘tackle’ on Armstrong.
@scousericey: Good on Everton and Moyes for taking a stand. The appeal failing was predictable, but the club is right to point out the double standards. “Violent conduct” for an accidental hair-pull in a jump? Absolute nonsense. Start applying the rules fairly or admit there’s a different set for certain clubs. @FA_PGMOL @premierleague
@PaulCarrott3: It’s far bigger than Everton, this, and I’m glad Moyes is calling it out. No football fan should be satisfied when you have dangerous tackles or behaviour like Martinelli’s last night going unpunished, and others banned for sarcastic applause and accidental hair pulling.
@FollowEverton: Sue the Premier League. Decisions this season have gone above and beyond levels of parody. Penalties for handballs against us with a lack of consistency shown elsewhere. Red cards. Yellow cards for taking free kicks too quickly.
