Toffees Squad Members Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye Following Apology for Keane Slap

The Everton midfielder received a warm ovation from his fellow squad members after issuing an apology for his shocking dismissal during Monday's victory at Manchester United.

Rare Situation in Premier League

Gueye became the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a fellow player in nearly two decades when he slapped his defensive colleague during the match. Everton's display was remarkable as they played with a man down for 85 minutes, including added time, to secure David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in 18 attempts.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Dressing Room Reaction

The Senegalese international was unable to secure an chance to converse with the manager or his colleagues at the interval. Afterwards, with the away dressing room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the veteran requested to speak to the entire group and Keane in particular.

  • Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the head
  • The heated 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
  • Additionally he said sorry to the squad for putting them with a difficult challenge
  • His apology were positively accepted by the squad

Possible Consequences

The 36-year-old may yet be disciplined by Everton despite Moyes' admission that he likes his players fighting with each other. Moyes has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is likely to be implemented in Gueye's case.

Suspension and National Team Commitments

The Merseyside club could be without their key midfielder until the new year. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be called up for AFCON 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 Reaction

At the same time, the Manchester United defender claimed his team of showing no immediacy in Monday's loss, which halted their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

  • 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Netherlands international
  • 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
  • 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it's difficult

The Red Devils 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.'

Crystal Roman
Crystal Roman

Elara is a poet and creative writing coach with a passion for storytelling and nature-inspired themes.