Toffees Squad Members Applaud Idrissa Gueye Following Apology for Michael Keane Incident
Idrissa Gueye was given a round of applause from his fellow squad members after delivering an apology for his extraordinary red card during Monday's victory at Manchester United.
Rare Incident in English Football
Gueye earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a teammate in nearly two decades when he slapped his defensive colleague during the fixture. The Toffees' display was heroic as they competed with 10 men for the majority of the game, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in 18 attempts.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Reaction
The Senegalese international did not get an opportunity to speak with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Afterwards, with the away dressing room buzzing after the narrow victory, the veteran requested to speak to the whole team and Keane in particular.
- Gueye apologized to the defender for slapping him across the head
- The intense early altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
- He also said sorry to the team for leaving them with a monumental task
- His apology were warmly received by the squad
Potential Consequences
The 36-year-old could still be disciplined by Everton despite the manager's admission that he likes his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is expected to be applied in this situation.
Ban and International Duty
Everton may find themselves without their key player until the January. Gueye will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for AFCON responsibilities by his national team before he can return to play against the Blues on 13 December.
'Emotions can run high,' Gueye continued. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'
Rival Reaction
At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused his team of lacking immediacy in the recent loss, which halted their winning streak at five games.
- 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Netherlands international
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging
The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for the weekend noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'