James Tarkowski believes that the referee’s decision to show Michael Keane a red card was “bizarre” and that his teammate had his arm raised in a routine defensive action.
“I’ve never seen anything like it, I thought the decision [to send off Keane] was just bizarre,” Tarkowski said in the aftermath of the 1-1 draw with Wolves.
“I’ve just seen it back. First of all, I understand the rule that if someone pulls someone’s hair intentionally, then I get that. There are a couple of components to it, really.
“First, Michael Keane is the most placid, nicest fella I know, so he’s never got any intention of causing harm to anyone. He’s gone to challenge for the ball and the hair is where his hand is to put his hand in his back. That’s how you defend, otherwise you’re just going to end up smashing your head into the back of someone else’s head. There’s no intention to pull the hair and maybe an experienced referee, who knows the player Michael Keane is, knows he’s not the player to do that. I think this is the referee’s second game in the Premier League, so, obviously, he doesn’t know the players very well yet.
“[The referee] has to [take context into account]. It can’t just be a law and [applied] the same for every situation. Keano’s hand has to go on his back – that’s how you head the ball to protect yourself. I even spoke to the lad after the game and he was saying he wasn’t asking for a red card, he just felt a pull on his hair and was asking for a foul, so even he didn’t feel like it was violent conduct. If that decision stays it’s a three-match ban for something that is absolutely nothing.”
Keane scored the first-half opener for the Blues before receiving his marching orders in a chaotic second half. Grealish followed him to the dressing room shortly after for picking up two quick yellow cards for dissent and sarcastically applauding the referee.
“I think we’re all frustrated at that point,” Tarkowski spoke about the Grealish dismissal.
“When you see the decision given against Keano, we’re all frustrated. Jack will hold his hands up and say he’s got to remain composed there because we need our players on the pitch at that point – it’s difficult enough with 10 men, nevermind nine.
“I’m sure he’ll be disappointed because we needed him on the pitch at that moment, but we dealt with it in the end. We get a point, it’s obviously disappointing, because we want to win games and tonight we didn’t but to finish with nine men, we take the point and move on.”