Everton's Bizarre Red Card Overshadows Historic Victory
In an extraordinary turn of events at Old Trafford, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was sent off after just 13 minutes for slapping his own team-mate, Michael Keane. The incident, which occurred during Everton's match against Manchester United on Tuesday 24 November 2025, marked the first time since 2008 that a Premier League player has been dismissed for fighting with a colleague.
The Moment of Madness That Shocked Old Trafford
The confrontation erupted after Gueye played a loose pass that gifted possession to Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes. Although Fernandes fired wide, Gueye became irate with Keane, raising his left hand to slap the defender in full view of referee Tony Harrington. The official immediately produced a red card, a decision that was quickly confirmed by VAR official Paul Howard.
According to the laws of the game, players must be sent off for "striking an opponent or any other person on the head or face with their hand or arm, unless the force used was negligible". Gueye had to be restrained by team-mates, including goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye, as he made his way down the tunnel while Keane continued to berate him.
Controversy and Consequences Following the Dismissal
The decision divided opinion among pundits. On Sky Sports, Gary Neville argued: "They were not fighting, it wasn't a scrap. It could have been dealt with by a yellow. I don't think it needed to be a red." Jamie Carragher agreed, suggesting the referee could have managed the situation better rather than immediately issuing a red card.
However, the Premier League stood by the decision, stating: "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."
Despite playing with ten men for over 80 minutes, Everton produced a stunning victory, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's first-half strike securing a 1-0 win. The result gave manager David Moyes his first ever victory at Old Trafford as an away manager.
Moyes delivered a surprising reaction after the match, stating: "I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn't do the right action. If you want that toughness and resilience to get a result, you want someone to act on it." He did, however, express disappointment with the sending off and revealed that Gueye had apologised to Keane and the team.
Match-winner Dewsbury-Hall described the team's reaction as "unbelievable" and "top tier", noting that the incident actually brought the players closer together. Gueye, who will serve a three-match ban for violent conduct, later issued a public apology on Instagram, taking full responsibility for his actions and vowing it would never happen again.
The 36-year-old Senegalese international is set to join the Africa Cup of Nations in December, meaning he may not feature for Everton again for several months, adding further significance to his moment of madness at Old Trafford.
