Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was shown a straight red card on Monday after slapping teammate Michael Keane during the first half of a Premier League match against Manchester United.
The incident unfolded in the 13th minute at Old Trafford, moments after Gueye lost possession, allowing Bruno Fernandes to take a shot with the score still goalless. Keane confronted Gueye over the mistake, pushing him during the exchange. Gueye reacted by striking Keane across the face, prompting referee Tony Harrington to dismiss him for violent conduct.
Jordan Pickford and Iliman Ndiaye quickly stepped in to separate the pair.
According to the Premier League’s match center, VAR reviewed the altercation and upheld the red card, stating that the midfielder delivered “a clear blow to Keane’s face.”
The confrontation stemmed from a miscommunication in Everton’s penalty area. Gueye recovered the ball and played it into space, anticipating Keane would advance toward the pass. Instead, Keane held his position, allowing Fernandes to intervene and fire wide.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Everton went on to secure a 1-0 victory, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring in the 29th minute.
After the match, Gueye issued a public apology.
“First of all, I want to apologize to my teammate Michael Keane. I take full responsibility for my reaction,” he wrote on Instagram. “I also apologize to my teammates, the staff, the fans, and the club. What happened does not reflect who I am or the values I stand for. Emotions can run high, but nothing justifies such behavior. I will make sure this never happens again.”
