DAVID MOYES SLAMS "EMBARRASSING" VAR AFTER MICHAEL KEANE APPEAL IS REJECTED
David Moyes attacks "bizarre" FA ruling on Michael Keane's hair-pull red card. Get the full scoop on the Everton boss's outburst.
David Moyes didn’t hold back after Everton lost their appeal over Michael Keane’s red card. Keane got sent off—thanks to a VAR review—for pulling Tolu Arokodare’s hair during an aerial challenge late in the game against Wolves. Everton tried to overturn the decision on Thursday, but the FA panel shot them down. So, Keane’s out for the next three matches.
Everton put out a statement confirming the bad news just before Moyes faced the press ahead of their FA Cup clash with Sunderland. The club said they were “disappointed,” but Moyes went much further. He was furious, especially after watching Gabriel Martinelli get away with just a yellow for shoving an injured Conor Bradley off the pitch during Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Liverpool the night before.
“Hugely disappointed. Hugely surprised. Honestly, I’m more angry with the panel who thought that was the right call,” Moyes said. “I know exactly who was on that panel. I can’t believe none of them overturned it. Are they calling that violent conduct?
“Last night, you could throw a ball at someone, push them, or even pick up a player who’s clearly hurt, and that’s fine. But Keane accidentally pulls someone’s hair and gets a three-match ban? That’s just bizarre to me.”
Moyes kept going: “He shouldn’t be banned at all. Honestly, I’m embarrassed for whoever’s running VAR. You’ve got a young ref doing maybe his third or fourth game, and VAR dropped him in it with a terrible call.
“What Keane did somehow gets him three games and a red card, but there was another tackle in that game that was much worse, and VAR didn’t even look at it. Feels like they’re getting everything backwards right now.”
He didn’t stop there. On Keane’s situation, Moyes added, “I’m just saying what I think. If I talk too much, they’ll just fine me for speaking out of turn. But if they want us to come on TV and talk, we should at least be able to tell the truth. That’s how I see it.
“Maybe it sounds like I’m saying there’s inconsistency, and honestly, I don’t have a huge issue with that. I just want them to do their jobs as well as possible. But if this is their best, then they’re in trouble.”
The chaos didn’t end with Keane. Jack Grealish also saw red against Rob Edwards’ side—two yellows for dissent in three minutes at the end of the match.
Moyes admitted he originally thought Grealish was out of line for clapping the ref, but then he saw clips of other players doing the same thing and not getting booked.
He said, “I wasn’t going to talk about the other decisions—they’re in the past, and there’s no point. But now that you mention it, I realise there have been a few more calls that went against us recently, and they’re tough to take.
“I thought Grealish was wrong at first, but then I saw other players clap the ref and get away with it—no booking, no sending off. We’ve seen handballs waved away, too. Now that you bring it up, yeah, there have been a few decisions that have definitely gone against Everton.”
DERBY OUTRAGE: PETER BANKES DOUBLES DOWN ON DISALLOWED KOLO MUANI GOAL DESPITE MASSIVE CRITICISM
Referee verdict: Discover why Peter Bankes disallowed Kolo Muani’s goal and Keith Hackett’s "stupid and soft" reaction.
Referee Peter Bankes stood by his call to disallow Randal Kolo Muani’s equaliser in the North London derby, calling it “a very, very clear offence.”
The moment sparked outrage. Gabriel, Arsenal’s defender, hit the deck after Muani’s challenge in the box. Former Premier League referees’ chief Keith Hackett didn’t hold back, calling the decision “stupid and soft".
Bankes didn’t hesitate. He blew for a foul, ruled out the goal, and VAR stayed out of it, even as Spurs fans fumed. That goal would’ve levelled it at 2-2.
Bankes explained on the Match Officials Mic’d Up show: “I was exactly where I needed to be for a cross from the right. I saw the Tottenham player put two hands into the back of the Arsenal player. That’s what grabbed my attention. When you see that live, it looks like a straightforward push – a clear foul.
“I held off on the whistle to let play run, then made the call after the ball went in. That way, VAR could step in if I’d missed something or if it looked off. But honestly, on the pitch, it looked obvious.
“I’m still comfortable with my decision. Sure, things can look different at different speeds; slow motion isn’t the same as seeing it live. But I got one look, and I was confident the two hands on the back had enough impact to be a foul.
“I know people will split on this, but I’m comfortable. That’s a free kick for me.”
The decision was a huge break for Arsenal, who ended up winning 4-1. As far as Spurs fans were concerned, Gabriel got away with one.
Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher backed Bankes up: “The on-field decision always stands. The ref saw enough for a push. VAR isn’t going to overturn that when the evidence is there.”
THE GIBBS-WHITE PROJECT: WHY MANCHESTER UNITED SEE THE FOREST STAR AS THEIR NEXT PLAYMAKER
United transfer hub. Get the report on wage bill cuts, the Forest playmaker, and City’s rival interest.
Manchester United still have a bit of a wait before the summer transfer window opens, but talk around Old Trafford is already heating up. People keep linking United with all kinds of new signings for when the season wraps up.
Michael Carrick has made quite the impression as United’s interim head coach so far. The club handed him the reins until the end of the season, and honestly, he’s done well with the opportunity.
Still, no one really knows who’ll be in charge next season. That uncertainty just adds fuel to the rumours about which players United will chase in the transfer market.
Right now, everything hinges on Champions League qualification. United sit fourth in the Premier League after a 1-0 win over Everton on Monday night. That spot could make all the difference for summer plans.
Morgan Gibbs-White's claim
Now, United have reportedly joined the hunt for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White. The Daily Mail says United are keeping an eye on the Forest playmaker, maybe even lining up a summer move.
But there’s a snag: United want to bring down their wage bill, and that could make signing Gibbs-White tricky.
Manchester City are also said to be interested, and Tottenham apparently tried to sign the 26-year-old with a £60 million offer, but that move fell apart.
Man United's Scott McTominay stance
As for Scott McTominay, it sounds like United aren’t planning a reunion. Despite recent talk about bringing the Napoli midfielder back, TEAMtalk reports United aren’t interested, and the idea hasn’t even come up in the recruitment department.
Napoli now values McTominay at close to £70 million, just a year and a half after he left United for around £25 million. He made the move to Italy in the summer of 2024 and, in his first season, helped Napoli win the Serie A title.
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