KYLE WALKER saw red on his Manchester City home debut – after a controversial second booking in three minutes that sparked Etihad outrage.
The £50million England right-back, already cautioned for a late tackle on Everton defender Leighton Baines, was yellow-carded again after an alleged elbow on Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 44th minute.
Former Sheffield United striker Calvert-Lewin seemed only to have been brushed with an arm.
And Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville claimed referee Bobby Madley had been "conned" by Calvert-Lewin's reaction in holding his head.
City substitute Raheem Sterling, whose thumping late leveller cancelled out Wayne Rooney's 200th Premier League goal in a 1-1 draw, also slammed the "unfair" decision.
Toffees midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin followed Walker off for his second yellow card amid a fiery finish.
Walker's dismissal seemed particularly harsh as he appeared to be looking at the ball rather than Calvert-Lewin when he leapt.
But Everton's coaches left their bench in protest and Madley promptly sent Walker off.
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Neville was among the fiercest critics of Walker's red card.
He said of the defender's rapid double booking: "A stunning moment. The first one, I don’t think there is too much contact with Baines.
"But his studs are high and when you go to ground and you lunge like that in you’re likely to pick up a yellow card.
"With the second one, Bobby Madley has a great view, Kyle Walker has a little look at him [Calvert-Lewin].
"The referee must think he’s raised his elbow and made contact. The reality is he hasn’t.
"He’s backing into him to establish his position. Calvert-Lewin has gone down and been clever. He’s held his head and I think that’s what’s conned the referee.
"You could say it’s clever from Calvert-Lewin, you could say it’s a bit cute, you could say it’s a bit snide.It’s a soft second yellow.
"The referees told us that second yellow has to be a high hurdle to get sent off – that’s not a high hurdle."
And Sterling later revealed City's frustration.
He said: "We felt decisions like those cost us a lot of points last season.
"I didn't see it as a second booking and I thought it was unfair."
But Etihad chief Pep Guardiola replied "Next question" when asked in a TV interview for his verdict.
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