Everton’s appeal against Michael Keane’s three-match ban has been rejected.
Keane received a straight red card during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Wolves after a VAR review found he had pulled Tolu Arokdare’s hair during an aerial challenge.
The defender was one of two Blues players dismissed by referee Tom Kirk, who later sent off Jack Grealish for sarcastically applauding a foul given in his favour.
But attempts to overturn Keane’s suspension fell on deaf ears with the Football Association, who have upheld the original decision taken by Kirk alongside VAR.
Everton responded to Friday’s judgement by saying they were ‘disappointed’ and pointed to the 32-year-old’s overall disciplinary record in their reason for appealing.
David Moyes, however, hit back and referenced Gabriel Martnelli’s booking for shoving an injured Conor Bradley in Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool in contrast.
“I’m hugely disappointed, hugely surprised [and] probably more angry with the panel who thought that was the case,” said the Everton manager.
“Because as a panel, it’s the panel who sits and looks at it. I know who the three of them are on the panel. I’m absolutely amazed that they didn’t in any way overturn it.
“To say it was violent conduct. We saw it last night. It is OK to throw a ball at somebody, OK to push them, lift them up with a bad injury.
“A little pull of someone’s hair accidentally means that there will be a three-game ban, which is quite extraordinary to me.
” I’m embarrassed for whoever was on VAR.”
Moyes also brought up the referee’s decision to only issue a booking to Hwang Hee-chan for a reckless challenge on Harrison Armstrong earlier in the game.
He added: “What Keane has done is a three game [ban] and a sending off.
“But the tackle was a nothing in the game and not recognised by VAR or the referee and nothing was given for it.
“It sounds as if they have got all the things in the wrong places at the moment.”