Jack Grealish has made his feelings clear after Everton’s appeal against Michael Keane’s red card for violent conduct was rejected
Stephen Killen Senior Sport Central Audience Writer
14:57, 09 Jan 2026Updated 15:03, 09 Jan 2026
Jack Grealish vented his frustrations after an appeal of Michael Keane’s red card was upheld.(Image: Getty Images)
Jack Grealish has criticised the decision to reject Michael Keane’s appeal after the Everton defender’s red card against Wolves. The centre-back saw red during the 1-1 draw for violent conduct following an alleged hair pull on forward Tolu Arokodare.
After VAR intervention, referee Thomas Kirk issued a red card upon reviewing the footage. Keane and Arokodare had both challenged for a header, with the defender appearing to grab hold of the 25-year-old before clearing the ball, leading to play being halted and Everton being reduced to ten men.
The Blues’ appeal against Keane’s three-match suspension was rejected by the Football Association (FA).
READ MORE: Every word a furious David Moyes said after Everton see Michael Keane red card appeal rejectedREAD MORE: Michael Keane appeal unsuccessful as Everton statement released and David Moyes furious
Everton published a statement on their official platforms and Grealish was among those expressing frustration at the outcome in the comments. He said: “Embarrassing.”
The Blues voiced their dismay at the ruling, believing the punishment was “clearly excessive” after the majority of the three-person independent panel voted to uphold the ban.
The club argued that the clash between Keane and the Wolves attacker fell short of the criteria for violent conduct as outlined in the regulations, emphasising their belief that it was neither “forceful nor intentional”.
Manager David Moyes expressed his fury ahead of the FA Cup third-round fixture against Sunderland, which Keane will be banned for. He said: “I’m hugely disappointed, hugely surprised – probably more angry with the panel who thought that was the case.
Jack Grealish’s comment on Everton’s social media post after the outcome of the appeal(Image: )
“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.”
Everton were reduced to nine men after Grealish received his marching orders for a second yellow card moments later.
The 30-year-old picked up two quickfire bookings, the latter arriving when he sarcastically clapped the referee’s call after being awarded a free kick.
Moyes held back when analysing Grealish’s red card, mindful of potential sanctions from the FA after receiving a caution for stepping outside his technical area on Wednesday.
He said: “I didn’t want to discuss any of the others because they have all gone in the past.
“But now you bring them up it makes me think: ‘By the way, maybe there have been a few more than should have gone against us’.
“I’m the first one to say Jack Grealish was wrong but since then I’ve been shown other players who have clapped the referee and it’s not resulted in a booking or a sending-off.
“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, surely we should be able to speak the truth and how we feel.”