Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has apologised to his teammates after being sent off for slapping Michael Keane during the club’s dramatic 1–0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The astonishing incident unfolded just 13 minutes into Monday night’s clash. After a misplaced pass from Gueye led to a rebuke from Keane, the 36-year-old reacted angrily, confronted the defender, and raised his hand to strike him across the face. Referee Tony Harrington immediately produced a straight red card, leaving Everton to play almost the entire match with 10 men.
Despite the early setback, Sean Dyche’s side delivered a gritty, disciplined performance. Dewsbury-Hall produced a stunning strike to give Everton the lead, and the Toffees held on under intense pressure to seal the victory.
In the aftermath, Gueye publicly accepted blame for the incident. Taking to Instagram, the Senegal international issued a grovelling apology to his teammates and fans, expressing regret for his moment of indiscipline and acknowledging the pressure he placed on the squad.
‘I want to apologise first to my teammate Michael Keane,’ it read. ‘I take full responsibility for my reaction. I also apologise 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 behaviour. I’ll make sure it never happens again.’
The Senegal international midfielder is now expected to face further internal consequences as Everton assesses the incident ahead of their next Premier League fixture.
