Idrissa Gueye received his second Premier League red card in his 241st appearance, marking his first since October 2017.
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was ejected from the match after an altercation with teammate Michael Keane during their Premier League fixture against Manchester United.
The incident occurred in the 13th minute at Old Trafford, with the score still level, shortly after a near goal by Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Gueye and Keane were seen engaging in a heated exchange.
Defender Keane appeared to push Gueye away on two occasions before the midfielder made contact with Keane’s face.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford intervened to separate the two players before referee Tony Harrington issued Gueye a straight red card for violent conduct.
The Premier League Match Centre later posted on X:, external “The referee’s decision to issue a red card to Gueye for violent conduct was reviewed and upheld by VAR, with the action deemed a clear strike to Keane’s face.”
According to the Laws of the Game, violent conduct is defined as striking an opponent or any other person on the head or face with their hand or arm, unless the force used is deemed negligible.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart suggested there “must have been brewing” tensions between the two players prior to the incident.
“The referee was not close enough to hear what Idrissa Gueye was saying, but he was in Michael Keane’s face, who is considerably bigger than him, and shoved him off with one arm,” Hart added.
“When he came over to continue the argument, the referee just casually walked over and sent him off. Jordan Pickford did very well in the situation.”
“If that’s all that happened though, it isn’t a red card. Something must’ve been brewing between them two.”
Despite playing with 10 men, Everton took the lead through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 29th-minute goal.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford intervened to separate Gueye and Keane
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Gueye’s dismissal marks the first instance of a player being sent off for fighting with a teammate in the Premier League since Ricardo Fuller and Andy Griffin of Stoke City in 2008 against West Ham.
Former assistant referee Darren Cann, who has overseen over 1,000 professional matches, described the clash between Gueye and Keane as “unusual.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he added, “Tony Harrington had a direct and unobstructed view of the confrontation. He clearly saw Gueye strike Keane in the face, which constitutes violent conduct under the laws of football, making the red card the correct decision.”
“While these types of incidents are rare, they have occurred on a few occasions in the past.”
Former Everton manager Roberto Martinez, speaking on Sky Sports, expressed his “surprise” at the incident.
“There appears to be a misunderstanding between them,” the Portugal boss added.
“The referee has no other option; the law dictates that it is a red card.”
Idrissa Gana Gueye signed a new one-year contract with Everton in July
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