Everton pro Idrissa Gueye was sent off early in the game against Manchester United for hitting his teammate. The coach’s statements afterwards were just as astonishing.
This altercation on Monday evening came as such a surprise to the director that it was only the replay that revealed why referee Tony Harrington suddenly showed Idrissa Gueye the red card against Manchester United. Then it became clear: the Everton midfielder had not only gotten into a physical altercation with teammate Michael Keane, but had also punched him in the face—in the 13th minute of the game, with the score at 0-0, mind you.
In terms of the rules, the most bizarre red card of this Premier League season was a clear-cut case: In cases of violent conduct, it is irrelevant whether the recipient is an opponent or another person. Although Gueye and Keane pushed each other, the former did not leave it at that and apologized that same night: first in the dressing room in front of the assembled team, then publicly on his social media channels.
“First of all, I would like to apologize to my teammate Michael Keane,” wrote the 36-year-old, who received his first red card in his 241st Premier League game. “I take full responsibility for my reaction. I also apologize 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 behavior. I will make sure that something like this never happens again.“
”You need players who behave like this”
Surprisingly, there was no reprimand from the coach. “You know, I actually like it when my players argue,” explained David Moyes, perhaps because Everton won 1-0 at Old Trafford despite being a man down. “What I mean is that I want them to be tough and not accept it when someone isn’t good enough.”
Gueye had played a pass on the left side of the penalty area intended for center back Keane, who failed to react. This allowed Bruno Fernandes to get a dangerous shot on goal. “If you want to have a successful team with resilience and toughness, you need players who behave like that,” Moyes praised his veteran player and would have liked referee Harrington to “think a little longer.”
His counterpart Ruben Amorim also surprised with his assessment of the scene. He knew it was an assault, “but I don’t agree with it,” said ManUnited’s head coach. “Fighting each other is not a bad thing, it doesn’t mean they don’t like each other.”
