Toffees Teammates Applaud Gueye Following Apology for Keane Slap

Idrissa Gueye was given a warm ovation from his fellow squad members after delivering an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent victory at Old Trafford.

Unprecedented Incident in Premier League

Gueye earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a teammate in nearly two decades when he slapped Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's display was remarkable as they played with 10 men for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Team Reaction

Gueye did not get an chance to speak with the manager or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the narrow victory, the veteran asked to speak to the entire group and Keane specifically.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for slapping 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 leaving them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were warmly received by the players

Possible Consequences

The 36-year-old could still be punished by Everton despite Moyes' statement that he appreciates his team members competing with each other. The Scot has a regular punishment process for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is likely to be applied in Gueye's case.

Suspension and National Team Duty

Everton may find themselves without their key player until the new year. The Senegalese international will serve a three-game suspension against Newcastle, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be called up for Africa Cup of Nations 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.'

Rival Reaction

Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt accused his team of lacking urgency in Monday's defeat, which halted their winning streak at multiple matches.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Netherlands international
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging

United travel to Selhurst Park for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'