Toffees Squad Members Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye After Apology for Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder received a warm ovation from his fellow squad members after issuing an apology for his shocking dismissal during the recent victory at Manchester United.
Unprecedented Situation in English Football
Gueye became the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a teammate in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the match. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they played with a man down for the majority of the game, including added 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 social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'
Team Reaction
Gueye did not get an opportunity to converse with Moyes or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the narrow victory, the veteran requested to speak to the entire group and Keane specifically.
- Gueye apologized to the defender for striking him across the face
- The heated early confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
- He also apologized to the team for putting them with a monumental task
- His apology were warmly received by the players
Possible Consequences
Gueye may yet be punished by Everton despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his team members fighting with each other. Moyes has a regular punishment process for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is likely to be implemented in Gueye's case.
Ban and National Team Commitments
Everton may find themselves without their key midfielder until the January. The Senegalese international will complete a three-game suspension against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but might be called up for AFCON responsibilities by Senegal 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, Mathijs de Ligt accused his team 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 Crystal Palace for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' said the defender. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'