Ban confirmed for Leeds United's upcoming opponents as Premier League release statement
Leeds United face Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium later this month.
Everton defender Michael Keane will miss his side’s meeting with Leeds United later this month due to a three-game ban.
Keane was one of two Everton players to be sent off during Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at home to rock-bottom Wolves. The centre-back was sent for an early bath in the 83rd minute at the Hill Dickinson Stadium for pulling Tolu Arokodare’s hair as the pair jumped for a header.
Referee Thomas Kirk initially missed the incident but was sent for an on-pitch review by VAR, with replays showing Keane pulling the hair of his opponent mid-flight. Such an offence is considered serious misconduct by the Premier League with recent incidents seeing the likes of Christian Romero sent off for doing similar.
Kirk subsequently brandished a straight red card. A statement from the Premier League Match Centre regarding the incident said: “After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of no foul by Keane and issued a red card for violent conduct.
“Referee announcement: ‘After review, Everton 5 commits an act of violent conduct on the Wolves 14. My final decision will be red card and a direct free kick to Wolves’.”
Keane will now be forced to serve a three-game ban which, unlike suspensions for accumulated yellow cards, can be served across domestic cup and league action. The 32-year-old will therefore miss Everton’s FA Cup meeting with Sunderland before Premier League games against Aston Villa and Leeds.
“It is not violent, it is not forceful and it is not deliberate,” Moyes protested of the decision. “So, all of those things I have said mean it shouldn’t have been a red card... I thought it was a ridiculous decision by the referee but more by VAR.
“I thought the ridiculous bit came from VAR. If anyone grows their hair a bit longer, they have a chance of getting it pulled. Crazy. It was a ridiculous decision. Everybody was frustrated, everybody could not believe it.”
Defensive issues for Everton ahead of Leeds United visit
Fellow Toffee Jack Grealish was also sent off shortly after, having received two yellow cards. The second booking came after he sarcastically applauded referee Kirk in a similar fashion to Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton during Leeds’ midweek defeat at St James’ Park.
Grealish will only serve a one-game ban, with the winger due back in good time to face Leeds on January 26. But Keane’s absence has come at a bad time for Everton, with fellow centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite yet to return from injury, leaving James Tarkowski and Lewis O’Brien as the only natural options.
Leeds won’t have an eye on that trip to Merseyside in the opening-night reverse fixture just yet, with plenty of football to be played beforehand. The Whites travel to old Championship foes Derby County in the FA Cup this weekend before hosting Fulham at Elland Road in nine days.
But Keane’s ban, should it not be overturned on appeal, has provided them with an early boost ahead of an away-day in which they could pick up more vital points. Leeds had gone three unbeaten on the road before Wednesday’s late defeat at Newcastle while Everton have failed to win any of their last three home fixtures.