Michael Keane appeal unsuccessful as Everton statement released and David Moyes furious

Everton have been unsuccessful in their appeal to overturn Michael Keane’s three-match ban for his red card against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Blues issued a statement on Friday morning, ahead of manager David Moyes’ press conference at Finch Farm to preview their FA Cup third-round tie with Sunderland.

It read: “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.”

Speaking after the game on Wednesday night, Blues boss David Moyes labelled ‘ridiculous’. He said: “It is not violent, it is not forceful and it is not deliberate so all of those things I have said mean it shouldn’t have been a red card.

“I think it was a really poor decision to send him to the screen in the first place. (Marc) Cucurella got his hair pulled (by Joao Neves in the Club World Cup final) – violent conduct, a deliberate action, no problem with that.

“But this was in the game, on a ball coming up and unless you have played the game you might not understand.

“I have been a centre-half and there is no way I am jumping to out-jump a big centre-forward and think ‘By the way I am going to out-jump him and at the same time I am going to pull his hair’.

“I don’t know anyone on the planet who is good enough to think that way when they are jumping up. I thought it was a ridiculous decision by the referee but more by VAR. I thought the ridiculous bit came from VAR.

“It can’t be violent conduct for that. I just can’t see how that warrants a sending-off. Why would that be a red card and we’re letting other things go. Ridiculous. Hopeless”

While Everton captain James Tarkowski said: “I don’t think anyone can believe it. The referee said the letter of the law is if you pull someone’s hair, it is violent conduct but I think there has to be an act of violence for it to be violent conduct.

“We all know Keano, he is the nicest fella around and never intends to do anything.

“I know what the rule is but I didn’t see any intent there. I think it is a really poor decision. Hopefully we can get it rescinded.”