Toffees Squad Members Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye Following Sincere Apology for Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after delivering an explanation for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent victory at Old Trafford.
Unprecedented Incident in Premier League
Gueye earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for striking a teammate in 17 years when he struck his defensive colleague during the match. The Toffees' display was heroic as they competed with 10 men for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.
'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Response
The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to converse with Moyes or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the narrow victory, the 36-year-old asked to address the entire group and Keane in particular.
- Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the face
- The intense early confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
- Additionally he said sorry to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
- Gueye's words were positively accepted by the squad
Potential Consequences
The 36-year-old may yet be disciplined by Everton despite Moyes' statement that he appreciates his players competing with each other. Moyes has a standard punishment process for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is likely to be implemented in Gueye's case.
Suspension and National Team Commitments
Everton could be without their key player until the new year. Gueye will serve a three-game suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be selected for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on 13 December.
'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Opposition Perspective
At the same time, the Manchester United defender claimed United of lacking immediacy in Monday's defeat, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.
- 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Netherlands international
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging
The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'