Everton Squad Members Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye After Apology for Keane Slap
Idrissa Gueye was given a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during Monday's victory at Old Trafford.
Unprecedented Incident in Premier League
Gueye became the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a fellow player in 17 years when he struck Michael Keane during the match. Everton's display was heroic as they competed with 10 men for the majority of the game, including stoppage time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.
'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'
Team Response
Gueye did not get an chance to converse with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the veteran requested to speak to the whole team and the defender in particular.
- Gueye apologized to the defender for slapping him across the head
- The heated 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
- Additionally he said sorry to the squad for leaving them with a monumental task
- His apology were warmly received by the squad
Potential Consequences
Gueye may yet be disciplined by Everton despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his team members competing with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is likely to be implemented in Gueye's case.
Ban and International Duty
The Merseyside club could be without their key midfielder until the new year. The Senegalese international will complete a three-match ban against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for AFCON responsibilities by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on 13 December.
'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Rival Perspective
Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender accused United of showing no urgency in Monday's defeat, which halted their unbeaten run at multiple matches.
- 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Dutch defender
- 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging
United travel to Crystal Palace for the weekend lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'