Idrissa Gueye was shown a straight red card for slapping Michael Keane - but Everton still claimed an extraordinary win against Manchester United
Idrissa Gueye has apologised after his red card against Manchester United
Idrissa Gueye has apologised after his red card against Manchester United
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Idrissa Gueye apologised to his Everton team-mates after his bizarre red card against Manchester United. The midfielder was given his marching orders after just 13 minutes at Old Trafford after squaring up to team-mate Michael Keane and slapping the defender as they argued over a misplaced pass which gave Bruno Fernandes a shooting chance he could not convert.
As a result of the red card, Gueye became the first Premier League player to be sent off for fighting a teammate since December 2008. But David Moyes’ side claimed an extraordinary win thanks to Kienan Dewsbury-Hall’s winner on the half-hour mark.
And taking to Instagram after the game, Gueye wrote: "I want to apologise first to my teammate Michael Keane.
"I take full responsibility for my reaction. I also apologise to my teammates, the staff, the fans and the club. What happened does not reflect who I am or the values I stand for.
"Emotions can run high, but nothing justifies such behaviour. I'll make sure it never happens again. UTT [Up the Toffees]."
Reacting to the incident after the game, Blues boss Moyes hailed his side’s fighting spirit, saying: “We don't see it very often. If nothing had happened afterwards, I don't think anybody in the stadium would've been surprised.
“I thought the referee could've maybe taken a bit longer to think about it. I've been told that if you slap your own player or if you leave an arm in then you could be in some form of trouble, but there is another side to it.
"I quite like my players fighting each other and getting annoyed with each other. If you want a winning team, with the resilience and toughness that got us the result, then I think you've got to have players that are going to react in that way.
"I'm disappointed we got the sending off but every player will tell you how angry they get with their team-mates.
Idrissa Gueye clashes with teammate Michael Keane resulting in a red card for Gueye during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton.
Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane clashed in the first half of Everton's Premier League clash vs Man United.
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"He has apologised in the dressing room for the sending off, praised the players endlessly for their performance tonight and thanked them for it."
During the game on Sky Sports, Gary Neville said Gueye’s slap did not warrant a sending off, adding: "They were not fighting, it wasn't a scrap. It could have been dealt with by a yellow. I don't think it needed to be a red."
But the Premier League said: “The referee’s call of red card to Gueye for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed to be a clear strike to the face of Keane.”
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