Everton's Premier League encounter with Wolverhampton Wanderers descended into late chaos on Wednesday night, with two red cards marring the final stages of the match at Goodison Park.
Double Dismissal Rocks Goodison Park
The dramatic finale saw Everton defender Michael Keane and midfielder Jack Grealish both receive their marching orders in quick succession. The incident-packed closing minutes transformed the complexion of the game, leaving the Toffees to finish with nine men.
VAR Intervenes for Keane's Hair Pull
The first and most controversial dismissal came in the 80th minute. Michael Keane was initially shown a yellow card following a tussle with Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) advised on-field official John Brooks to review the incident on the pitchside monitor.
Upon review, the referee determined that Keane had committed an act of violent conduct by pulling Arokodare's hair. The original booking was overturned, and a straight red card was issued. The Premier League's official Match Centre on X confirmed the decision, quoting the referee's announcement: “After review, Everton 5 commits an act of violent conduct on the Wolves 14. My final decision will be red card and a direct free kick to Wolves.”
Grealish Sees Red for Sarcastic Applause
Moments later, the home side's misery was compounded when Jack Grealish received his second yellow card. The England international had just won a foul but reacted petulantly by sarcastically clapping in the direction of the referee. This act of dissent prompted the official to produce the yellow card, followed immediately by the red, reducing Everton to nine men for the final knockings of the match on 7th January 2026.
The double sending-off capped a frustrating night for Sean Dyche's side and will have significant repercussions. Both players will now face automatic suspensions, leaving Everton short of key personnel for upcoming fixtures. The match concluded with Wolves seeing out the game against their depleted opponents, securing a valuable result on the road.
