Everton Football Club has expressed its surprise and disappointment after failing to overturn defender Michael Keane's red card, confirming he will serve a three-match suspension.
Appeal Panel Upholds Dismissal
The club's appeal against the sending-off was rejected by an independent Football Association panel. Michael Keane was dismissed in the 1-1 Premier League draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers for an incident involving Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare.
The panel ruled that the player's actions, which involved pulling an opponent's hair, constituted violent conduct. Under the game's laws, such an act is automatically classified as violent conduct because it cannot be considered a legitimate attempt to play the ball.
Everton's Strongly-Worded Statement
In an official club statement, Everton outlined their frustration with the decision. They argued that the incident did not meet the threshold for violent conduct, stating their belief that Keane's action was neither forceful nor intentional.
The club also highlighted the defender's previously unblemished disciplinary record, noting he had never before been sent off for violent conduct in his career. Everton described the three-game ban as "clearly excessive" and said they were surprised this point was also dismissed by the appeal panel.
Significant Fixtures Missed
The suspension begins immediately and will see Keane miss three crucial fixtures. He will be absent for the FA Cup third-round tie against Sunderland, followed by key Premier League matches away at Aston Villa and at home to Leeds United.
This leaves manager Sean Dyche with a selection headache in central defence as his team navigates a busy period across two competitions. The absence will be particularly felt in the league, where Everton are fighting to secure their top-flight status.
The decision is now final, and the Toffees must accept the ruling despite their public protest. All focus will now shift to how the team copes without one of their senior defenders for this important run of games.
