Arjun Menon
Everton express frustration over FA decision
Everton have described themselves as “surprised and disappointed” after the Football Association rejected their appeal against Michael Keane‘s red card. The defender was dismissed for pulling the hair of Wolves‘ Tolu Arokodare during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw, a decision the club believed did not warrant a three-match ban.
The 32-year-old centre-back will now miss Saturday’s FA Cup clash with Sunderland, as well as Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa and Leeds. Everton argued the incident did not meet the threshold for violent conduct, emphasizing Keane’s clean disciplinary record.
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“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,” the club stated. “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.”
Everton maintained that the three-game suspension was “clearly excessive,” expressing frustration that their appeal was dismissed outright.