Goodison Park witnessed a dramatic and controversial conclusion to its Premier League fixture on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, as Everton finished their match against Wolverhampton Wanderers with nine men following two late red cards.
VAR Intervention Sees Keane Dismissed for Hair Pull
The major flashpoint occurred around the 80-minute mark involving Everton defender Michael Keane and Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare. Initially, referee David Coote showed Keane only a yellow card for an incident involving the Wolves forward. However, the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) advised an on-field review.
Upon reviewing the monitor, the official overturned his original decision. The Premier League's official Match Centre on X confirmed the change, stating the referee issued a red card for violent conduct. The announcement clarified: “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.” The act in question was Keane pulling Arokodare's hair.
Grealish Sees Red for Reaction
The chaos did not end there. In the final moments of the match, Everton's Jack Grealish also received his marching orders. The midfielder, who had already been booked, was shown a second yellow card for sarcastically applauding the referee after winning a foul. This petulant reaction meant an early bath for the star, compounding Everton's misery.
To complete a frustrating night for the home side, manager David Moyes was also cautioned for leaving his technical area during the tumultuous finale.
Match Context and Consequences
The dismissals overshadowed the match's earlier narrative. Keane had initially been the hero, scoring the opening goal to put Everton in front. However, Wolves, who started the day bottom of the Premier League, fought back in the second half. Mateus Mane found the net for the visitors, continuing his good form after scoring his first goal for the club against West Ham United just days prior.
The double sending-off will have significant repercussions for Everton. Both Keane and Grealish will now face automatic suspensions, depleting David Moyes's squad for crucial upcoming fixtures. The incident involving Keane's hair-pull and the subsequent VAR overturn is also certain to spark widespread debate about the interpretation of violent conduct in the modern game.
