Idrissa Gueye was applauded by his Everton teammates after apologising for being sent off for striking Michael Keane during Monday’s win over Manchester United.
The midfielder was shown a red card after slapping Keane during a heated exchange at Old Trafford, becoming the first Premier League player in 17 years to be dismissed for striking a teammate. The incident came after Gueye’s misplaced pass created a chance for Bruno Fernandes.
With Everton securing a 1-0 win despite playing with 10 men for most of the match, Gueye addressed the squad in the dressing room after the game. He apologised directly to Keane and to the team for putting them under pressure, thanking them for their heroic performance. His words were met with a round of applause from his teammates.
Gueye could still face internal club discipline, as Everton manager David Moyes confirmed standard fines usually apply for red cards. The 36-year-old is set to miss the next three matches due to suspension and may also be unavailable beyond that if called up for Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations squad.
He also issued a public apology on social media, taking full responsibility for his actions and promising it would not happen again.
