David Moyes has described the decision to send off Michael Keane for hair-pulling as 'ridiculous', following Everton's 1-1 draw with Wolves. The Everton manager was furious after referee Thomas Kirk, advised by VAR Chris Kavanagh, deemed Keane's challenge on Tolu Arokodare worthy of a straight red card in the 83rd minute.
Keane had given Everton the lead in the first half, but his dismissal for tugging Arokodare's hair during a defensive header left Moyes incensed. 'It is not violent, it is not forceful and it is not deliberate,' Moyes said. 'I thought it was a really poor decision to send him to the screen in the first place.' He contrasted the incident with Marc Cucurella's hair-pull, which he described as 'violent conduct' and 'deliberate'.
Moyes also expressed frustration with Jack Grealish, who was sent off for two yellow cards for dissent within minutes of Keane's dismissal. When asked if Grealish had been unprofessional, Moyes replied curtly: 'Yes, I agree - and I already have done.' Grealish will miss one game, while Keane faces a three-match ban, though Moyes was unsure whether the club would appeal.
Despite his anger at the officiating, Moyes admitted Everton's performance was 'not great' before the red cards, with Mateus Mane equalising for Wolves. 'We never really felt as though we got a grip of it,' he said.
