David Moyes hit out at PGMOL, VAR and the standard of officiating in the Premier League as he fumed over Michael Keane's three-game ban being upheld.

Keane received a straight red card for violent conduct on Wednesday as Everton drew 1-1 with Wolves.

Referee Thomas Kirk did not initially spot that Keane had grabbed Tolu Arokodare's hair while winning a header, but after a long VAR check, the official decided that it was worthy of a red card.

Violent conduct brings with it a three-game ban, which Everton appealed. However, the club confirmed on Friday, ahead of Saturday's FA Cup clash with Sunderland, that their appeal had been unsuccessful.

And Moyes did not hold back in expressing his frustration in his pre-game press conference.

"Hugely disappointed. Hugely surprised," he said.

"I'm probably more angry with the [appeals] panel who thought that was the case. I have to question the three [people on the panel]. I know who the three are and I'm amazed they in some way didn't overturn it.

"Three games for what shouldn't have been any games. I'm more embarrassed for the VAR. This is a young referee doing only his third or fourth game and VAR gave him a terrible decision. They shouldn't have got involved at all.

"Embarrassed for them, looking to find the smallest things. I don't think anybody would have paid any interest in it anyway [if not picked up].

"I just want them to do their job the best they can – if that’s the best they can do at the moment, they’re in a difficult position."

Moyes pointed to what he sees as clear inconsistencies from game to game, citing an incident on Thursday when Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli only received a caution for throwing the ball at and then pushing Liverpool's Conor Bradley while the defender was down injured.

He said: "We saw last night that it's OK to throw a ball at somebody, it's OK to push and pick up someone with a bad injury.

"But that a little pull of someone's hair, accidentally, means a three-game ban is quite extraordinary for me."

David Moyes reacts to Michael Keane's suspension appeal being rejected, and Hwang Hee-chan's challenge on Harrison Armstrong that did not result in a red card. pic.twitter.com/766CGkEobK

— Everton (@Everton) January 9, 2026

Moyes also felt aggrieved that a rash challenge from Wolves' Hwang Hee-chan on Harrison Armstrong, with the forward clearly stamping on the Everton midfielder's leg, was not deemed worthy of further scrutiny by VAR prior to Keane's dismissal.

"What Keane has done is a three-game ban and a sending off, but [Hwang’s] tackle was not recognised by VAR or the referee?" Moyes said.

"It sounds like their [priorities] are in the wrong place at the moment."

It was recently deemed by a review panel that Everton were wrongly denied a penalty in a 1-0 loss to Arsenal on December 20, when William Saliba kicked Thierno Barry in the box.

Everton were also denied a spot-kick despite a Tyler Dibling shot hitting Jaidon Anthony's outstretched arm in a 0-0 draw at Burnley last month.

Keane was not the only Everton player to see red on Wednesday, with Jack Grealish receiving his marching orders when he picked up a second booking for sarcastically applauding the referee.

And while Moyes felt Grealish deserved his second yellow card, he suggested other players have been given leniency in similar situations.

"I didn’t want to discuss other [incidents] because they’re gone and in the past, but now you bring them up, there’s a fair few that have gone against us," he added.

"I thought Jack was in the wrong, but then I’ve seen other players who clap the referee and don’t get bookings."