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Moyes was booked for celebrating Beto’s stoppage-time equaliser on his 27th birthday in Everton’s 1–1 draw with Brighton.
Everton boss David Moyes (AP)
Everton boss David Moyes took aim at football’s “killjoy” laws after being booked for sprinting onto the pitch to celebrate Beto’s dramatic last-gasp equaliser in Saturday’s 1–1 draw with Brighton.
The Toffees looked set for defeat at the Amex Stadium after Pascal Groß’s 73rd-minute opener, but substitute Beto struck in the seventh minute of stoppage time — on his 27th birthday — to steal a point.
Moyes, unable to restrain himself, burst from the dugout and ran onto the pitch in delight.
Referee Chris Kavanagh was less amused. The Everton manager was promptly shown a yellow card for leaving his technical area, a decision that left Moyes shaking his head post-match.
The 63-year-old likened his celebration to David Pleat’s iconic pitch-side jig at Maine Road in 1983, when Luton Town avoided relegation on the final day of the season.
“I hope you’re not going to call me ‘Pleaty’ going forward,” Moyes joked. “The difference is Pleat doesn’t get booked for it. Everybody enjoys seeing those celebrations. We’re killing it.”
Moyes argued that football is stripping away moments of raw emotion that fans love to see.
“The managers can’t come out of their technical area to celebrate a goal, knee slide, do things which give you people something to talk about,” he said. “We’re taking the joy out of it.”
And if officials think the booking will stop him next time? Think again.
“I bloody will do it again!” Moyes laughed. “Actually, if I’d been a bit more mobile, I might’ve done a knee slide. That would only have got me a yellow as well, so I might as well have gone the whole hog.”
Moyes’ rant comes amid growing frustration among managers over touchline restrictions.
Earlier this season, Enzo Maresca received a one-match ban after a second yellow for celebrating Chelsea’s stoppage-time winner against Liverpool.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner admitted he reined in his celebrations during last season’s FA Cup run for fear of suspension.
February 01, 2026, 21:31 IST
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