Everton Squad Members Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye After Apology for Keane Slap
The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his fellow squad members after delivering an apology for his extraordinary red card during Monday's triumph at Manchester United.
Unprecedented Incident in English Football
The midfielder earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the fixture. The Toffees' performance was remarkable as they competed with 10 men for the majority of the game, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in 18 attempts.
'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'
Dressing Room Reaction
The Senegalese international did not get an chance to converse with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the narrow victory, the veteran asked to speak to the whole team and Keane in particular.
- He expressed regret to Keane for slapping him across the head
- The intense early altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
- Additionally he said sorry to the team for leaving them with a difficult challenge
- His apology were warmly received by the players
Potential Ramifications
Gueye could still be disciplined by the club despite the manager's statement that he likes his players competing with each other. Moyes has a standard disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is expected to be implemented in this situation.
Ban and National Team Duty
The Merseyside club may find themselves without their influential player until the new year. The Senegalese international will serve a three-game ban against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Forest but might be selected for AFCON duty by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on mid-December.
'Emotions can run high,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'
Opposition Perspective
At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused his team of lacking urgency in the recent loss, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.
- 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' said the Netherlands international
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it's difficult
United head to Selhurst Park for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' commented the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'