🔗 Share this article

Idrissa Gueye received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after delivering an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent victory at Manchester United.

Rare Incident in English Football

The midfielder became the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's display was remarkable as they played with 10 men for 85 minutes, 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.'

Team Response

Gueye was unable to secure an chance to converse with the manager or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the veteran requested to speak to the whole team and Keane in particular.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the head
• The heated early confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
• Additionally he said sorry to the squad for putting them with a monumental task
• Gueye's words were warmly received by the players

Possible Ramifications

The 36-year-old may yet be punished by Everton despite the manager's statement that he appreciates his players fighting with each other. Moyes has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is expected to be applied in this situation.

Ban and International Commitments

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key midfielder until the January. Gueye will complete a three-game ban against Newcastle, AFC Bournemouth and Forest but might be selected for AFCON responsibilities by Senegal before he can return to play against Chelsea on mid-December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Opposition Reaction

Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender claimed his team of showing no urgency in Monday's loss, which ended their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Netherlands international
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it's difficult

United head to Crystal Palace for Sunday's lunchtime start. 'The next game is really important now,' commented the defender. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'