Everton Teammates Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye After Sincere Apology for Michael Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after delivering an apology for his shocking red card during the recent victory at Old Trafford.
Rare Situation in English Football
Gueye earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a teammate in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the fixture. The Toffees' display was heroic as they competed with 10 men for 85 minutes, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in 18 attempts.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'
Dressing Room Reaction
The Senegalese international did not get an opportunity to speak with Moyes or his teammates at half-time. Afterwards, with the away dressing room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to speak to the entire group and Keane in particular.
- Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the face
- The heated early altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
- He also said sorry to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
- His apology were warmly received by the players
Potential Consequences
The 36-year-old could still be punished by the club despite Moyes' admission that he likes his team members fighting with each other. Moyes has a regular disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is expected to be applied in Gueye's case.
Ban and International Duty
Everton could be without their key midfielder until the new year. Gueye will complete a three-match ban against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but might be called up for Africa Cup of Nations duty by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on 13 December.
'Emotions can run high,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Rival Perspective
Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt accused his team of showing no urgency in Monday's loss, which ended their unbeaten run at multiple matches.
- 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Netherlands international
- 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging
The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'