Cliff Notes – Everton’s Idrissa Gueye sent off after slapping teammate
- Idrissa Gueye was sent off for violent conduct after slapping teammate Michael Keane during an argument just 13 minutes into the match against Manchester United.
- The incident occurred following a misplaced pass from Gueye, leading to a chance for United, and was confirmed by VAR as a clear strike to Keane’s face.
- Despite being down to ten men, Everton secured a 1-0 victory, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring shortly after Gueye’s dismissal, showcasing the team’s resilience.
Everton’s Idrissa Gueye sent off after slapping teammate
MANCHESTER, England — Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off for violent conduct after just 13 minutes of their Premier League win over Manchester United on Monday after slapping teammate Michael Keane.
Gueye was caught by referee Tony Harrington striking Keane in the face during an argument between the pair early in the first half at Old Trafford.
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The confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass from Gueye to Keane in Everton’s penalty area led to a chance for Bruno Fernandes.
Gueye was immediately shown a red card by Harrington and subsequently had to be held back by both Jordan Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye as he tried to continue his argument with Keane.
The Premier League Match Centre said: “The referee’s call of red card to Gueye for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR — with the action deemed to be a clear strike to the face of Keane.”
It forced David Moyes into a second reshuffle, coming only three minutes after Seamus Coleman’s first Premier League start of the season was ended prematurely through injury.
Everton keeper Jordan Pickford gets between teammates Michael Keane and Idrissa Gueye during an on-field argument. Getty Images
“I didn’t think there was anything in it,” Moyes said after the match. “I was a bit annoyed they were challenging eachother, but I was also a bit pleased they were fighting eachother because it showed me they cared.
“If we hadn’t got that fight or resilience they would never have got through that game. [Gueye] has apologised to the dressing room. No problem and we move on.”
The score was tied 0-0 when Gueye was sent off, but Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall put the visitors up 1-0 with a lovely curled finish from the top of the area shortly after Everton went down 10 players.
Everton were able to hold Man United in check despite being down a player for the entire second half to pick up an unlikely three points at Old Trafford.
“I think it was just a moment of madness,” Dewsbury-Hall said of Gueye’s red card. “It was avoidable, but Idrissa has apologized to us all at full-time and said his piece. We move on from it. The reaction from the lads after that is unbelievable. We could easily have crumbled and lost the game comfortably and if anything it made us grow as a team.”
It’s not the first time teammates have been involved in an altercation on the pitch.
The most recent instance came when Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller slapped teammate and captain Andy Griffin on Dec. 28, 2008, in a game against West Ham.
In 2005, Newcastle teammates Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were involved in a confrontation during a Premier League game with Aston Villa which resulted in both players being shown red cards.
Blackburn Rovers pair David Batty and Graeme Le Saux were also involved in a fiery on-field argument in a Champions League tie against Spartak Moscow in 1995.
