Qudus SalihuEverton’s Jack Grealish has sensationally broken his silence following the “ludicrous” red card that overshadowed Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. In an explosive post-match interview that has sent social media into a frenzy, the England international took aim at the Premier League and rookie referee Thomas Kirk, labeling the officiating “an absolute joke” and “the worst I’ve seen in my life.”
The drama at the Hill Dickinson Stadium peaked in the 90th minute. Already on a yellow for dissent following Michael Keane’s controversial hair-pulling dismissal, Grealish won a free-kick in his own half. However, his decision to sarcastically applaud the official backfired as Kirk immediately brandished a second yellow, followed by the first red card of Grealish’s Premier League career.
”I’m sick of it, to be honest,” Grealish reportedly fumed in the tunnel after the match. “I’ve won a foul, I’m the one getting kicked all over the shop for 90 minutes, and I get sent off for a bit of sarcasm? People pay good money to watch the best players on the pitch, not a referee who wants to be the star of the show. It was a rubbish decision, and everyone in that stadium knows it.”
The loan star’s “cold” and unfiltered rant didn’t stop at his own dismissal. He also leaped to the defense of teammate Michael Keane, whose red card for grabbing Tolu Arokodare’s hair was described by manager David Moyes as “ridiculous.” Grealish added: “To send Keano off for that after a VAR check is embarrassing. It’s football, not a library. If they want to kill the emotion of the game, they’re doing a great job of it.”
While some pundits have criticized Grealish’s lack of discipline, the “least media-trained” response has resonated with Evertonians who feel the club was victimized by an inexperienced official. With Grealish now set to miss the crucial upcoming clash against Aston Villa, his explosive comments have ensured that the debate over Premier League officiating standards will dominate the headlines for the rest of the week.
Mustapha Sheidu
Rabiu Aminu
Qudus Salihu
