Toffees Squad Members Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye Following Sincere Apology for Keane Slap
Idrissa Gueye was given a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his shocking dismissal during the recent victory at Old Trafford.
Rare Incident in Premier League
The midfielder earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for striking a fellow player in 17 years when he struck Michael Keane during the fixture. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they competed with a man down for the majority of the game, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Team Response
The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to speak with the manager or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room buzzing after the narrow victory, the 36-year-old requested to address the entire group and the defender in particular.
- Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the head
- The intense 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
- He also apologized to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
- His apology were warmly received by the squad
Potential Consequences
The 36-year-old may yet be punished by the club despite the manager's admission that he likes his players competing with each other. Moyes has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is likely to be applied in Gueye's case.
Suspension and National Team Duty
The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key midfielder until the new year. Gueye will serve a three-match ban against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be called up for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on mid-December.
'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'
Opposition Perspective
Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender claimed United of showing no urgency in Monday's loss, which ended their unbeaten run at multiple matches.
- 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Netherlands international
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging
The Red Devils travel to Selhurst Park for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'
