Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall Hits Out At ‘Mind Boggling’ Suspension After Fifth Booking

Everton midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall says it is “mind boggling” that he has already been handed a suspension after collecting five yellow cards in just six Premier League games.

The 27-year-old, who joined Everton from Chelsea this summer for £28m, was booked during Monday’s 1-1 draw against West Ham for a challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters. That caution means he will now miss Sunday’s clash with Crystal Palace.

“Forgive me if I’m wrong, and I might be, but some of these decisions are so hard to take. Mind boggling,” Dewsbury-Hall posted on X.

It is not unprecedented for players to serve suspensions this early in the campaign — Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson faced a similar fate two seasons ago — but Dewsbury-Hall’s frustration is clear.

Everton manager David Moyes also blasted the officiating, branding referee Samuel Barrott’s decision to book the midfielder as “shabby.”
“I think the decisions we’ve had at the moment [have been frustrating], but I think all the managers might be saying that,” Moyes said. “There’s been a general poor level at the moment. I thought the decision on Dewsbury-Hall was a really shabby decision.”

Dewsbury-Hall’s card against West Ham was his fifth of the season after previous bookings against Liverpool, Manchester City, and others. One of those came controversially in the Merseyside derby when he was punished for taking a quick free-kick.

Team-mate Jack Grealish publicly backed him at the time, criticising referee Darren England’s decision and saying he had “never seen that in my life.”

For Dewsbury-Hall, the early suspension is a tough setback in what has otherwise been a strong start to life at Goodison Park.