Idrissa Gueye Sent Off for Violent Conduct in Premier League Match

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 after striking teammate Michael Keane.

The incident occurred when referee Tony Harrington caught Gueye hitting Keane in the face during a disagreement early in the first half at Old Trafford. The altercation was sparked by a misplaced pass from Gueye to Keane in Everton’s penalty area, which led to an opportunity for Bruno Fernandes.

Harrington issued an immediate red card to Gueye, who was subsequently restrained by teammates Jordan Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye as he attempted to continue his argument with Keane. The Premier League Match Centre confirmed that the red card was reviewed and upheld by VAR, as the action was deemed a clear strike to Keane’s face.

This incident forced manager David Moyes to make a second adjustment to his lineup just three minutes after Seamus Coleman’s first Premier League start of the season was cut short due to injury.

“I didn’t think there was anything in it,” Moyes stated after the match. “While I was initially annoyed by their confrontation, I was also somewhat pleased that they showed passion, as it indicated they cared. If we hadn’t seen that level of fight and resilience, we may not have been able to secure a positive result in that match. Gueye has since apologized to the team, and we will move forward.”

At the time of Gueye’s dismissal, the score was still 0-0, but shortly after his red card, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored a stunning curled finish to put Everton ahead 1-0.

Despite playing with ten men for the entire second half, Everton managed to hold Manchester United at bay and clinched a remarkable three points at Old Trafford.

“It was just a moment of madness,” Dewsbury-Hall remarked regarding Gueye’s red card. “It was an avoidable situation, but Idrissa has made amends with us after the game. The response from the team was phenomenal. We could have easily crumbled under pressure, but instead, the incident helped us grow stronger as a unit.”

This is not the first instance of teammates clashing on the pitch. Notably, Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller slapped captain Andy Griffin during a match against West Ham on December 28, 2008. Similarly, in 2005, Newcastle teammates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were sent off for fighting during a Premier League game against Aston Villa. Additionally, Blackburn Rovers’ David Batty and Graeme Le Saux had a fiery argument during a Champions League tie against Spartak Moscow in 1995.