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Idrissa Gueye was given a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an explanation for his extraordinary red card during the recent victory at Manchester United.

Rare Incident in Premier League

Gueye earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a fellow player in 17 years when he struck Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's performance was remarkable as they played with 10 men for 85 minutes, including added time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Team Reaction

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 buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old requested to address the whole team 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
• Additionally he apologized to the team for putting them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were positively accepted by the players

Potential Consequences

Gueye could still be disciplined by the club despite the manager's admission that he appreciates his players competing with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is likely to be implemented in this situation.

Ban and International Commitments

The Merseyside club could be without their key player until the new year. The Senegalese international will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be called up for AFCON responsibilities by his national team before he can return to play against Chelsea on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Opposition Reaction

Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt accused United of showing no urgency in Monday's defeat, which ended their winning streak at multiple matches.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' said the Netherlands international
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging

United travel to Crystal Palace for Sunday's lunchtime start. 'The next game is really important now,' commented the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'