Idrissa Gueye’s Red Card Sparks Controversy in Everton’s Victory Over Manchester United

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

The incident occurred after Gueye misplayed a pass to Keane in Everton’s penalty area, which led to a scoring opportunity for Bruno Fernandes. Referee Tony Harrington witnessed Gueye striking Keane in the face during a heated argument and promptly issued a red card.

In the aftermath of the incident, both Jordan Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye had to restrain Gueye as he attempted to continue his dispute with Keane.

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

This early dismissal forced manager David Moyes into a second tactical adjustment, coming just three minutes after Seamus Coleman was injured during his first Premier League start of the season.

Moyes commented after the match: “I didn’t think there was anything in it. I was a bit annoyed that they were challenging each other, but I was also pleased to see they cared enough to show that kind of fight. If we hadn’t had that resilience, we wouldn’t have managed to get through the game. [Gueye] has apologized to the dressing room. No problem, and we move on.”

At the time of Gueye’s red card, the score was still 0-0, but shortly thereafter, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall put Everton ahead with a well-placed curled shot from the edge of the area.

Despite being a player down for the entire second half, Everton managed to maintain their lead against Manchester United, ultimately securing a surprising three points at Old Trafford.

Dewsbury-Hall described Gueye’s red card as “a moment of madness,” noting that it was avoidable but emphasizing that the team has moved on from it. He praised the squad’s reaction: “We could easily have crumbled, but instead, it helped us grow as a team.”

This incident is not isolated, as previous confrontations among teammates during matches have occurred in football history. For example, Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller slapped captain Andy Griffin during a match against West Ham in December 2008. Additionally, in 2005, Newcastle teammates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were involved in a notable altercation that resulted in both receiving red cards during a game against Aston Villa. Similarly, Blackburn Rovers players David Batty and Graeme Le Saux had a fiery dispute during a Champions League match against Spartak Moscow in 1995.