Everton Squad Members Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye Following Apology for Michael Keane Slap
The Everton midfielder was given a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent triumph at Manchester United.
Unprecedented Incident in Premier League
The midfielder became the first Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a teammate in 17 years when he slapped 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 secure David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Reaction
Gueye did not get an chance to speak with the manager or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old requested to address the entire group and the defender specifically.
- He expressed regret to Keane for slapping him across the face
- The heated 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
- He also said sorry to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
- Gueye's words were positively accepted by the squad
Potential Ramifications
The 36-year-old may yet be disciplined by the club despite Moyes' statement that he likes his team members competing with each other. Moyes has a standard punishment process for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is expected to be applied in this situation.
Suspension and National Team Duty
Everton could be without their influential player until the January. The Senegalese international will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Forest but could be selected for AFCON responsibilities by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on 13 December.
'Emotions can run high,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Opposition Reaction
At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused United of showing no immediacy in Monday's loss, which ended their winning streak at multiple matches.
- 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Netherlands international
- 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
- 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it's difficult
The Red Devils head to Selhurst Park for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'