
Everton have been in contact with Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) following the two unacceptable yellow cards shown to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, leading to his suspension against Crystal Palace, reveals David Moyes.
Dewsbury-Hall received his fifth yellow card against West Ham United, the Blues’ sixth match of the season on Monday. It was a clean tackle to win the ball and despite no obvious contact with West Ham’s Kyle Walker-Peters or any ill intent, the referee decided to caution the Everton playmaker.
The summer signing from Chelsea also went into the referee’s book during the Anfield derby after he took a quick free kick - a decision that drew public ire from his manager, Moyes and teammate Jack Grealish.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference, Moyes said that the club has been in dialogue with PGMOL over the refereeing decisions. “We have spoken to them, I think they are accepting that both yellow cards were wrong,” said Moyes.
“It is amazing. If you look through his history, I think he only had six bookings last year in total, five the year before. He has never had these numbers at all.
“The last two decisions were terrible - more for the boy. We are going to miss him greatly but he has been back playing regularly and enjoying his football.”
Moyes also confirmed that Jarrad Branthwaite and Merlin Rohl will miss this game as well. “They are both making progress but they haven't made it on the grass yet,” he added.
Reader Comments (22)
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2 Posted 03/10/2025 at 16:35:31
Dewsbury-Hall remains suspended for the Palace game — although the officials might not be so keen to flash the yellow cards on Sunday as quickly as they have done in these two cases... then again!
3 Posted 03/10/2025 at 16:54:39
4 Posted 03/10/2025 at 17:10:36
5 Posted 03/10/2025 at 17:25:02
6 Posted 03/10/2025 at 17:25:45
The bookings were deliberate.
Agent Masters at it again.
Fuck the PGMOL and fuck the corrupt Premier League.
7 Posted 03/10/2025 at 17:43:41
You will never convince me otherwise. PIGS MOL
8 Posted 03/10/2025 at 20:35:58
Yellows cards are given for next to nothing these days, so why they're depriving the game of players when the bar to a yellow is lower, and the chance of injury has increased.
What is it actually achieving?
9 Posted 03/10/2025 at 20:46:28
Same goes for suspensions in cup competitions where player miss games. If they're going to change what is and isn't a booking, then they also need to change the ruling on what constitutes a ban.
5 yellows and a ban doesn't stop players getting bookings anyway, so it's completely ridiculous. They should just bin the rule altogether. If you get a yellow, fine, if you get 2 you get a red, also fine. But leave it there. That's punishment enough.
This notion of something that happens in previous games having a bearing on future games is just plain stupid.
10 Posted 03/10/2025 at 20:54:37
I'd perhaps suggest 10 yellows should equal a 1-game ban.
11 Posted 03/10/2025 at 22:01:46
12 Posted 03/10/2025 at 23:53:27
Sigh, as ever with the Premier League.
This evening's rugby league contest between Wigan and Leigh was professional sport perfection by the way.
13 Posted 04/10/2025 at 01:22:44
What should be tweaked is that it shouldn't be an automatic suspension and each player should be able to argue their case and use precedents. That should level the playing field somewhat.
The big problem is that the PGMOL are never going to readily allow the competence of their members to be challengeable in that way.
14 Posted 04/10/2025 at 05:05:26
Should a player who injures other players with foul tackles be treated in the same way as those yellow carded for mouthing off, handball where your arm isn't in a "natural" position, kicking the ball away, time wasting, taking a quick free kick, or referee bias, sorry, error?
Maybe even introduce video evidence of differences between various referees' interpretation of rules and intentions which may even improve refereeing by virtue of consistency.
Just thank heavens that goal kicks no longer have to leave the penalty area before... perhaps not.
15 Posted 04/10/2025 at 09:13:25
This has obviously been removed but, considering the way yellow cards are dished out these days, then maybe it's worth looking at again.
It makes sense, get a few more people on the gravy-train, especially if you can see the results which we would be accessible to people within the game, who could then question why two different players will have received different points for the exact same offence!
Whilst they are at it, maybe they could do away with penalties for everything (again if it's for or against certain clubs) and bring back the indirect free-kick!
16 Posted 04/10/2025 at 10:00:40
There used to be a system where a manager could ask the referee to review the card and rescind it in his report post-match, in exceptional circumstances, like the last game especially.
However, that was on the points system and you ran the risk of increased points for an unsuccessful appeal.
I agree with comments above. I'm beyond thinking that there is a conspiracy. It's there. Swathes of evidence prove it. It has upped a notch since the disease, Masters, has become the Top 6's god.
For me, Moyes has to say "They have apologised. They were both wrong, but the system to rescind no longer exists". That would force Wanker Webb to make a statement and blub some useless retort.
Yeh, Moyes will get the Masters death letter and be banned from looking confused on the touchline for several matches.
But his wishy washy "they kind of did but didn't maybe" is as much use as an anal diaphragm.
Also employ RNS tactics. Refuse to play a fixture if a certain ref is picked. They got away with it. Everton are too timid.
17 Posted 04/10/2025 at 11:42:44
But we all know there is more chance of Lord Horatio Nelson getting his arm and eye back than that happening!
18 Posted 04/10/2025 at 12:59:19
I wonder how much the shit bag ref was paid for the derby game?
It's all down to Masters. He's the Kier Starmer of Football.
19 Posted 04/10/2025 at 13:17:17
They should change the ridiculous rule, you should be allowed to appeal yellow cards, especially when they're blatantly wrong.
20 Posted 04/10/2025 at 13:31:56
That and the fact they'd probably have dozens of yellow cards appealed every week.
21 Posted 04/10/2025 at 15:04:39
Different points for each colour and a ban after accumulating 10 points.
22 Posted 04/10/2025 at 15:34:02
Players play the same way regardless of whether they have 1 or 4 bookings in previous games. They only play differently when they're on a yellow in a game so nothing changes.
Just bin the rule. It's pointless and doesn't affect player behaviour at all. It's like in World Cups or big cup tournaments when great players get bans for accruing cards -- pointless.
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1 Posted 03/10/2025 at 16:24:07
I'd also like an explanation of why so many refs have it in for us along with Masters and his sycophants.