In the 13th minute of the Premier League match, during the 12th round, Gueye made an error, resulting in Bruno Fernandes taking a shot at Everton's goal. Keane then confronted his teammate, sparking an argument. Gueye unexpectedly slapped Keane, receiving a direct red card.

Everton played with one less player for the remaining 80 minutes. Despite this, the visiting team held their ground and secured a 1-0 victory. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the decisive goal with a curling shot into the corner in the 29th minute.

Idrissa Gueye (left) slaps teammate Michael Keane during the Man Utd 0-1 Everton match in the 12th round of the Premier League on 24/11. *Photo: EPA*

When questioned about the incident involving Gueye and Keane, Everton coach David Moyes stated that disagreements among teammates are normal. He expressed a wish that the referee had reconsidered before issuing the red card.

"I know the rules state that slapping a teammate can lead to trouble", Moyes added, "but on another note, I like my players to challenge each other if someone makes a mistake. I'm disappointed the team lost a player. However, as players, we sometimes can't help but get angry with our teammates."

During halftime, Gueye apologized to Keane, his teammates, the coaching staff, the club, and the fans. The 36-year-old Senegalese midfielder further stated on Instagram: "What happened does not reflect my character or the values I uphold. Emotions can overwhelm reason, but nothing can justify such behavior. I guarantee it will never happen again."

Dewsbury-Hall commended the team's response after being reduced to ten men. He suggested that the victory against Man Utd would help Everton mature and improve their play.

Gueye previously played for Everton from 2016 to 2019 before transferring to PSG. In 2022, the 36-year-old midfielder rejoined the Liverpool-based club. Keane, another key player for Everton, joined in 2017 and has appeared in 243 matches.

Gueye is not the first Premier League player to be sent off for striking a teammate. In 2005, during a match against Aston Villa, Newcastle players Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer were both dismissed for fighting each other. Later, in 2008, Ricardo Fuller received a red card for slapping teammate Andy Griffin during a Stoke versus West Ham game.

Thanh Quy (according to MEN, Instagram)