Idrissa Gueye Sent Off for Violent Conduct in Premier League Match Against Manchester United

MANCHESTER, England — Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off for violent conduct just 13 minutes into their Premier League match against Manchester United on Monday, following an incident in which he slapped teammate Michael Keane.

The incident occurred when Gueye struck Keane in the face during a heated exchange early in the first half at Old Trafford. This confrontation stemmed from a misplaced pass that Gueye had delivered to Keane within Everton’s penalty area, which led to a scoring opportunity for Bruno Fernandes.

Referee Tony Harrington promptly issued a red card to Gueye after reviewing the situation, with the decision later validated by VAR, determining that it constituted a clear strike to Keane’s face. Following the dismissal, Gueye had to be restrained by teammates Jordan Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye as he attempted to continue the argument with Keane.

David Moyes, Everton’s manager, was required to make a second tactical adjustment just three minutes after Seamus Coleman had to exit the match due to injury during his first Premier League start of the season.

“I didn’t think there was anything in it,” Moyes commented after the match. “I was a bit annoyed that they were challenging each other, but I was also somewhat pleased that they showed that level of commitment, as it demonstrated their passion for the team. If they hadn’t shown that fight or resilience, they would never have managed to secure a win in that game. Idrissa has apologized to the dressing room, and we move on.”

At the time of Gueye’s red card, the score was still 0-0. However, shortly thereafter, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored a beautifully curled shot from the edge of the area, giving Everton a 1-0 lead despite being down to ten players.

Remarkably, Everton managed to maintain their lead against Manchester United throughout the entire second half, ultimately securing an unexpected three points at Old Trafford.

Dewsbury-Hall reflected on Gueye’s dismissal, stating, “It was just a moment of madness. It was avoidable, but Idrissa has apologized to us all at full-time. The response from the team was incredible; we could have easily collapsed but instead, it fostered our growth as a unit.”

This incident is not unprecedented in football, as there have been previous instances of teammates clashing on the pitch. Notably, in December 2008, Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller slapped teammate Andy Griffin during a match against West Ham. In another instance from 2005, Newcastle teammates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were both shown red cards after their confrontation during a game against Aston Villa. Additionally, Blackburn Rovers players David Batty and Graeme Le Saux were involved in a heated argument during a Champions League match against Spartak Moscow in 1995.