Toffees Squad Members Give Applause to Idrissa Gueye After Sincere Apology for Michael Keane Incident
The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his Everton teammates after delivering an apology for his shocking dismissal during the recent victory at Old Trafford.
Unprecedented Incident in Premier League
The midfielder became the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a teammate in nearly two decades when he struck Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's performance was remarkable as they played 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 multiple tries.
'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'
Team Reaction
Gueye did not get an chance to converse with the manager or his colleagues at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the narrow victory, the veteran requested to address the whole team and Keane in particular.
- Gueye apologized to the defender for striking him across the face
- The intense 13th-minute altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
- He also said sorry to the squad for putting them with a difficult challenge
- His apology were positively accepted by the players
Possible Ramifications
The 36-year-old could still be disciplined by Everton despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is likely to be implemented in Gueye's case.
Suspension and International Commitments
Everton could be without their key player until the new year. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be called up for Africa Cup of Nations duty by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on 13 December.
'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'
Rival Reaction
Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender claimed United of lacking immediacy in the recent loss, which halted their unbeaten run at five games.
- 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Netherlands international
- 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
- 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging
United head to Crystal Palace for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'