Idrissa Gueye Sent Off for Violent Conduct in Everton’s Premier League Victory

MANCHESTER, England — In a dramatic turn of events during their Premier League match against Manchester United, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off for violent conduct just 13 minutes into the game after striking teammate Michael Keane.

The incident occurred early in the first half at Old Trafford, following a misplaced pass from Gueye that resulted in a scoring opportunity for Bruno Fernandes. Referee Tony Harrington promptly issued a red card after witnessing Gueye’s action, which was confirmed by VAR as 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. The incident forced Everton manager David Moyes to make a second tactical adjustment, just three minutes after Seamus Coleman had to leave the pitch due to injury, marking his first Premier League start of the season.

“I didn’t think there was anything in it,” Moyes remarked post-match. “While I was initially annoyed by their confrontation, I also appreciated their passion. It demonstrated their commitment to the team. Without that resilience, we might not have navigated the game successfully. Gueye has apologized to the squad, and we will move forward.”

At the time of Gueye’s dismissal, the score was still tied at 0-0. However, shortly thereafter, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall managed to put Everton ahead with a beautifully curled shot from outside the box. Remarkably, despite being a man down for the entire second half, Everton held Manchester United at bay, clinching an unexpected three points at Old Trafford.

Dewsbury-Hall reflected on the situation, stating, “It was just a moment of madness. The incident could have been avoided, but Idrissa has sincerely apologized to us all after the match. The way the team reacted was incredible. We could have easily faltered, but instead, it served to strengthen our bond as a team.”

This skirmish isn’t an isolated incident in football; on-field altercations among teammates have occurred in the past. A noted example occurred on December 28, 2008, when Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller slapped captain Andy Griffin during a match against West Ham. Similarly, in 2005, Newcastle’s Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were both shown red cards following a confrontation during a Premier League match against Aston Villa. Another notable instance took place in 1995 when Blackburn Rovers players David Batty and Graeme Le Saux engaged in a fiery argument during a Champions League match against Spartak Moscow.