Idrissa Gueye Sent Off for Violent Conduct in Everton’s Victory Over Manchester United

omidbasir- MANCHESTER, England — Idrissa Gueye, midfielder for Everton, received a red card for violent conduct a mere 13 minutes into their Premier League match against Manchester United on Monday, after striking teammate Michael Keane in the face.

The incident took place when referee Tony Harrington observed Gueye hitting Keane during a disagreement early in the first half at Old Trafford. This confrontation was triggered by a misplaced pass from Gueye to Keane, which had led to an opportunity for Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.

Harrington wasted no time in issuing a red card to Gueye, who was subsequently restrained by teammates Jordan Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye as he attempted to continue arguing with Keane.

The Premier League Match Centre confirmed that the red card was reviewed and upheld by VAR, deeming the action a clear strike to Keane’s face.

The dismissal forced manager David Moyes to make an early adjustment to his lineup, just three minutes after Seamus Coleman had to leave the pitch due to injury during his first Premier League start of the season.

“I didn’t think there was anything in it,” Moyes reflected post-match. “While I was a bit annoyed at their confrontation, I was also pleased to see the passion because it demonstrated they cared. Without that fight and resilience, they would not have managed to secure the win. Gueye has apologized to the team, and we will move forward.”

At the time of Gueye’s ejection, the match was tied at 0-0, but soon after, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall gave Everton the lead with a beautifully curled shot from the edge of the penalty area.

Remarkably, despite being down a player for the entirety of the second half, Everton managed to maintain their composure against Manchester United, earning an unexpected three points at Old Trafford.

Dewsbury-Hall described Gueye’s dismissal as a “moment of madness,” adding that it was avoidable. “Idrissa has apologized to the team at full-time, and we have decided to move on. The response from the team was incredible; we could have easily crumbled but instead, it strengthened our unity.”

This incident is not unique in football history, as there have been previous occurrences of teammates clashing on the pitch. Notably, Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller slapped teammate and captain Andy Griffin during a match against West Ham on December 28, 2008. Similarly, in 2005, Newcastle players Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer clashed during a Premier League game against Aston Villa, leading to both being shown red cards. Additionally, Blackburn Rovers’ David Batty and Graeme Le Saux had a fiery disagreement during a Champions League match against Spartak Moscow in 1995.