Everton said they are “surprised and disappointed” after their appeal against defender Michael Keane’s red card against Wolves was rejected by a Football Association panel.
The Premier League club expressed their belief that Keane’s three-game suspension “is clearly excessive” in a statement, external on Friday.
Centre-back Keane, 32, was sent off for pulling the hair of Wolves‘ Tolu Arokodare in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw.
He will miss Everton‘s FA Cup tie with Sunderland on Saturday, plus Premier League games against Aston Villa and Leeds.
“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,” Everton said.
“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.”
More to follow.