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Idrissa Gueye was given a warm ovation from his fellow squad members after issuing an apology for his extraordinary red card during the recent triumph at Manchester United.

Rare Incident in English Football

Gueye earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a fellow player in 17 years when he slapped Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's performance was remarkable as they competed with 10 men for the majority of the game, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Team Response

Gueye was unable to secure an chance to converse with Moyes or his colleagues at the interval. Afterwards, with the away dressing room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to speak to the entire group and the defender specifically.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for striking him across the head
• The heated early confrontation occurred after a poor distribution in his own penalty area
• He also apologized to the squad for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were positively accepted by the squad

Possible Consequences

The 36-year-old could still be disciplined by Everton despite Moyes' admission that he likes his players fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular punishment process for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is expected to be implemented in Gueye's case.

Suspension and National Team Duty

The Merseyside club could be without their key midfielder until the new year. The Senegalese international will complete a three-game ban against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but might be called up for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on mid-December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Reaction

Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender accused his team of showing no urgency in Monday's loss, which halted their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Netherlands international
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging

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