´If we grew our hair longer, we might get more red cards´ – Moyes fumes at Keane´s red card

David Moyes slammed the “ridiculous” decision to send off Michael Keane for violent conduct during Everton’s 1-1 draw with Wolves.

The Toffees also had Jack Grealish dismissed as they finished Wednesday’s clash with the Premier League’s bottom side with nine men.

Keane, who opened the scoring at Hill Dickinson Stadium, was shown a straight red card in the 83rd minute following a VAR review, with referee Thomas Kirk deeming him to have deliberately tugged at Tolu Arakodare’s hair as they contested an aerial ball.

It was a decision that left Moyes baffled.

“I think it’s not deliberate tugging of the hair, certainly not violent, certainly not aggressive,” he said. “This was done in an action in the game, on a ball coming up, and unless you have played the game, you might not understand.

“I have been a centre-half and there is no way I am jumping to outjump a big centre-forward and think: ‘By the way, I am going to outjump him and, at the same time, I am going to pull his hair’.

“I don’t know anyone on the planet who is good enough to think that way when they are jumping up. I thought it was a ridiculous decision by the referee, but more by VAR.

“Maybe if we all grow our hair longer, we might get a few more red cards and deliberate decisions given against us. It wasn’t deliberate today.”

James Tarkowski was also flabbergasted by Keane’s dismissal in what was only Kirk’s second Premier League appointment.

However, the Everton captain could understand the decision to give Grealish his marching orders seven minutes later, after the winger sarcastically clapped in the referee’s direction.

“[The] second half was bizarre. It’s not often you spend the last few minutes with nine men,” he added. “I’ve never seen anything like it at the end, it was bizarre.

“First of all, Michael Keane is the most placid character you could ever meet. He’s never had any intention to harm. Maybe an experienced referee at this level knows Michael wouldn’t do that. It’s a three-match ban now over something that is absolutely nothing.”

On Grealish’s red card, he continued: “Jack will hold his hand up and say he needs to remain composed there. We need our players on the pitch.”

“It’s not violent conduct or a deliberate action. It didn’t warrant a sending off.”

David Moyes’ #EVEWOL reaction as he admitted we didn’t play well enough tonight.pic.twitter.com/4jULB13TzX

— Everton (@Everton) January 7, 2026

Meanwhile, it was a bittersweet result for bottom club Wolves.

Rob Edwards’ side came from behind to earn a draw and extend their three-match unbeaten streak, but they were unable to capitalise on their two-man numerical advantage during nine minutes of stoppage time.

“Once Jack Grealish gets sent off and we’re playing against nine men, I thought we played into their hands,” the Wolves boss said. “We needed more direction. We needed to put crosses into the box from different places. We pushed.

“It’s still progress. With 11 men, we got back into it with a great goal. We want to try keep this momentum going.”

Edwards also singled out Mateus Mane, who earned the point with a composed finish after latching onto Jorgen Strand Larsen’s defence-splitting pass.

Aged 18 years and 113 days old, the winger became the youngest ever player to score in back-to-back Premier League matches Wolves.

“I’m not surprised anymore,” Edwards added. “I may have been a few weeks ago because he was doing really well when he was coming on. But now, that’s four really good performances in a row, two goals, and he’s affecting the games.

“You could see he didn’t have his full energy. I think he had to drag himself up and find something, which I asked him to do at half-time.

“Massive credit to him for a brilliant goal. It was an amazing run, great touch and finish. He’s stepping up, and I think players are responding around him as well.”