David Moyes slams VAR after Everton red card – “I don’t know anyone on the planet”

David Moyes was furious with the decision to send off Everton defender Michael Keane against Wolves

David Moyes was left seething by the red card that caused Everton’s game with Wolves to descend into chaos.

The match was in the balance when, in the 83rd minute, VAR intervened to send referee Thomas Kirk to the pitch-side monitor to review a decision that would ultimately lead to Michael Keane being shown a straight red.

Replays showed Keane appearing to pull the hair or Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare as the pair battled for the ball near the halfway line with the scores level at 1-1. Kirk concluded the defender’s actions warranted violent contact.

Speaking after the game Moyes, clearly incensed, said: “It is not violent, it is not forceful and it is not deliberate. So all of those things I have said mean it shouldn’t have been a red card.”

Moyes rounded on VAR for stepping in to influence an incident that had initially appeared innocuous – one the Blues boss still believes did not merit the punishment one of his most trusted players received.

He continued: “I think it was a really poor decision to send him to the screen in the first place. [Chelsea player Marc] Cucurella got his hair pulled – violent conduct, a deliberate action, no problem with that.

“But this was 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. I thought the ridiculous bit came from VAR.”

Keane’s red card was followed by the sending off of Jack Grealish, who received two yellow cards for dissent as Everton fought to hang onto a point. Everton had led through a first half goal from Keane, who then headed against the post. Mateus Mane levelled with just over 20 minutes to go and the red card that followed left Everton reliant on a stunning Jordan Pickford save from Hugo Bueno to leave Hill Dickinson Stadium with a point.