Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has publicly apologised after being shown a straight red card for an astonishing incident where he struck his own teammate, Michael Keane, during Monday's Premier League victory over Manchester United.
The Bizarre On-Field Incident
The extraordinary event unfolded just 13 minutes into the match at Old Trafford. A heated exchange erupted between Gueye and Keane following a shot at goal by Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes. Television replays conclusively showed Gueye raising his hand and making contact with Keane's face.
Referee Tony Harrington witnessed the altercation and had no hesitation in dismissing the Senegalese international, reducing Everton to ten men for the vast majority of the contest.
An Unlikely Victory and Public Apology
Despite the significant disadvantage, Everton displayed remarkable resilience to secure a crucial three points. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the winning goal in the first half, sealing a memorable victory for the Merseyside club.
Following the final whistle, Gueye took full responsibility for his actions in a post on his Instagram story. "I want to apologise first to my team-mate Michael Keane," he wrote. "I take full responsibility for my reaction. I also apologise to my team-mates, the staff, the fans and the club."
He added, "What happened does not reflect who I am or the values I stand for. Emotions run high but nothing justifies such behaviour. I'll make sure it never happens again."
Manager and Teammate Reaction
Everton manager David Moyes offered a mixed response when questioned about the sending-off after the match. While expressing disappointment, he also suggested he appreciates passion in his squad.
"I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn't do the right action," Moyes told Sky Sports. "If you want that toughness and resilience to get a result, you want someone to act on it... He's apologised for the sending off, he's praised the players and thanked them for it and apologised for what happened."
Match-winner Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall described the event as a "moment of madness" but was full of praise for the team's character. "The reaction from the lads after it was unbelievable, top tier," he said. "We could've easily crumbled... but it probably made us grow even more as a team."
