Controversial Red Card Sparks Debate in Premier League Clash

In a dramatic turn of events reminiscent of the infamous clash between Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer in 2005, Idrissa Gueye found himself at the center of controversy after being sent off during a match between Newcastle United and Everton. The incident occurred on Monday night, prompting the Premier League to swiftly clarify the referee’s decision.

The Premier League’s match center issued a statement on X, confirming that the red card issued to Gueye for violent conduct was reviewed and upheld by VAR, noting that the action constituted a clear strike to the face of teammate Michael Keane.

Gary Neville, a United legend and commentator for Sky Sports, expressed his astonishment at the incident while commending Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for his efforts to de-escalate the situation. He remarked, “There’s a coming together between him and Michael Keane. It always looks unsavoury when it is teammate against teammate. Gueye approached Keane, who did not react aggressively. I think Jordan Pickford managed the situation very well.”

Social media reactions varied, with user @agbnufc_ drawing parallels to the Bowyer-Dyer incident, stating, “Shades of Bowyer vs Dyer you love to see it.” Meanwhile, @ChelsChris03 criticized the decision as overly harsh, commenting, “That is the softest red card I’ve ever seen. If that were two players from United, it wouldn’t even be a red.”

Other comments included @0xJonnyDee’s take on Gueye’s actions, labeling him a “moron” for slapping a teammate and getting sent off, while @ViscogliosiLuca questioned the validity of the red card, saying, “Is that really worthy of a red card? It seemed like just handbags.”

User @Alexander_divi highlighted Keane’s disbelief over the incident, noting, “MICHAEL KEANE CAN’T BELIEVE WHAT HE JUST WITNESSED. HE GOT SLAPPED IN THE FACE BY HIS OWN TEAMMATE WHO THEN GOT SENT OFF.” Support for Neville’s viewpoint emerged from @mevans_11, who argued that a yellow card would have sufficed, suggesting that such incidents involving teammates typically warrant a lesser penalty.

The discussion around the decision reflects broader frustrations with officiating, as echoed by @ftbIdxniel who lamented, “Game’s gone,” and @Ash_LFC7 who declared, “So pushing your own teammate gives you a red card now. The PGMOL are an utter embarrassment. Football is a dying sport.”

According to BBC Sport, Arsenal and Everton now share the dubious distinction of having received more red cards than any other team in Premier League history, totaling 110. Notably, Gueye’s dismissal marked the first instance of a player being red-carded for an altercation with a teammate since the 2008 incident involving Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller and Andy Griffin.

The laws concerning ‘violent conduct’ stipulate that striking an opponent or any person on the head or face with the hand or arm constitutes a sending-off offense, unless the force employed is deemed negligible. Neville contended that the situation could have been avoided altogether had the officiating been more measured, stating, “Was it negligible? That’s the question. I believe it was negligible. It wasn’t a fight; it could have easily been resolved with a yellow card. I’m curious about what Gueye and Keane will discuss in the dressing room after this.”

Following this incident, Ruben Amorim’s United will face Crystal Palace away at Selhurst Park on Sunday, while David Moyes’ Everton will host Newcastle United the day prior. The Red Devils will then begin December with a match against struggling West Ham next Thursday, with the Toffees traveling to Bournemouth two days earlier.