Toffees Teammates Applaud Idrissa Gueye Following Apology for Michael Keane Slap

Idrissa Gueye was given a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during Monday's victory at Old Trafford.

Rare Situation in Premier League

The midfielder earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for striking a fellow player in nearly two decades when he slapped his defensive colleague during the fixture. Everton's performance was remarkable as they competed with 10 men for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Dressing Room Response

The Senegalese international did not get an chance to converse with Moyes or his colleagues at half-time. Afterwards, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the narrow victory, the veteran requested to speak to the entire group and Keane specifically.

  • Gueye apologized to the defender for slapping him across the face
  • The intense 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
  • Additionally he apologized to the squad for leaving them with a difficult challenge
  • Gueye's words were warmly received by the squad

Potential Ramifications

Gueye could still be disciplined by the club despite Moyes' statement that he likes his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is likely to be applied in Gueye's case.

Ban and National Team Duty

Everton may find themselves without their key player until the January. The Senegalese international will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle, AFC Bournemouth and Forest but might be called up for AFCON duty by Senegal before he can return to play against the Blues on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Perspective

At the same time, Mathijs de Ligt accused his team of lacking urgency in Monday's loss, which halted their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

  • 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Netherlands international
  • 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
  • 'When facing sides like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging

United head to Selhurst Park for Sunday's lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'

Alexa Cowan
Alexa Cowan

Lena is a tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring how digital innovations impact everyday life and personal development.