Idrissa Gueye, the Senegalese midfielder for Everton, has issued an apology to his teammate Michael Keane after receiving a red card for slapping him during a Premier League match against Manchester United. Despite the early dismissal, Everton secured a notable 1-0 victory against the hosts at Old Trafford.
The incident unfolded in the 13th minute of the game. Tensions flared between Gueye, 36, and defender Michael Keane after Keane reportedly blamed Gueye for not pursuing the ball. The altercation escalated when Keane pushed Gueye, to which Gueye reacted by slapping his teammate. Referee Tony Harrington swiftly intervened, brandishing a red card for Gueye, reducing Everton to ten men for the majority of the match.
Following the game, Gueye conveyed his apologies to Keane, the team, and the coaching staff, both privately in the dressing room and publicly through a message posted on social media. His misconduct is expected to result in a three-match ban from the Football Association.
Despite playing with a man disadvantage for nearly the entire match, Everton demonstrated remarkable resilience, managing to secure three crucial points with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. This victory was a significant achievement for manager David Moyes, whose side displayed strong determination.
Moyes later commented on the incident, stating that he views such displays of passion and occasional internal conflict as indicators of a strong, winning mentality within a team. “I like it when my players fight back and forth and cause a mess between each other like this,” Moyes remarked. “If you want a team that can win frequent matches with resilience and the desire to win, this will make us get a good result in the game.”
The win elevated Everton to 11th position in the Premier League standings with 18 points from 12 matches, placing them level on points with Manchester United, who currently occupy 10th place.
