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Idrissa Gueye received a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent victory at Manchester United.

Rare Incident in Premier League

Gueye earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a teammate in nearly two decades when he slapped his defensive colleague during the fixture. Everton's performance was heroic as they competed with a man down for 85 minutes, including added time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Team Response

The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to speak with Moyes or his teammates at half-time. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to address the whole team and Keane in particular.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the head
• The intense 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
• Additionally he apologized to the squad for putting them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were warmly received by the players

Possible Ramifications

The 36-year-old could still be punished by Everton despite Moyes' statement that he appreciates his team members fighting with each other. The Scot 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 Commitments

The Merseyside club could be without their influential midfielder until the January. Gueye will complete a three-game suspension against Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for AFCON responsibilities by his national team 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 Reaction

At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused United of lacking immediacy in Monday's defeat, which halted their winning streak at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' stated the Netherlands international
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging

The Red Devils head to Selhurst Park for the weekend noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' commented De Ligt. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'