Idrissa Gueye breaks silence after red card for slap on Everton team-mate

November 25, 2025 Oliver Obel

As reported by LADbible and Sky Sports, tensions flared shortly after Bruno Fernandes sent a shot over the bar in the 13th minute. As Everton reset inside their own penalty area, Idrissa Gueye appeared to confront Michael Keane, seemingly unhappy with how the previous phase of play unfolded.

Fans in the stands looked confused — many did not initially realise anything had happened. When replays later emerged, they showed Gueye making contact with Keane’s face. The referee immediately produced a red card for violent conduct.

The Premier League’s Match Centre later confirmed that VAR upheld the call, describing the incident as “a clear strike to the face of Keane”. Sky Sports also pointed out that the broadcast cameras initially missed the exchange because they were still tracking Fernandes’ earlier attempt.

Everton reorganise and see the game out

Reduced to ten men, Everton dropped into a tighter shape and adjusted their approach. David Moyes’ side absorbed pressure well and struck at just the right time.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall broke the deadlock before the half-hour mark, steering a composed effort beyond Manchester United goalkeeper Lammens to give Everton control of the match. From there, they managed the game professionally and frustrated United throughout the second half.

Speaking afterward, Moyes told Sky Sports that Gueye apologised directly to the squad in the dressing room. While acknowledging the rules behind the dismissal, he added a note of pragmatism: “I got told that the rules of the game are that if you slap your own player, you could be in trouble. But there’s another side to it. I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn't do the right action.”

The win moved Everton into 11th place, edging ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

Gueye issues public apology

Later that evening, Gueye posted a statement on Instagram. “I want to apologise first to my team-mate Michael Keane,” he wrote. “I take full responsibility for my reaction. I also apologise to my team-mates, 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 behaviour.”

You can see the apology here

Not the first intra-team clash in English football

Although unusual, flare-ups between team-mates are not without precedent. The 2023/24 campaign saw Sheffield United’s Vinicius Souza confront Jack Robinson during a match at Wolves, while a 2016 clash between Preston North End’s Eoin Doyle and Jermaine Beckford resulted in both players being dismissed.

Each incident reignited debate about competitiveness, discipline, and the boundaries of acceptable frustration.

Looking ahead

Everton will now turn their attention to Saturday’s meeting with Newcastle at the Hill Dickinson Stadium — an opportunity to build on the resilience shown against Manchester United and to ensure the night’s controversy becomes a brief footnote rather than an ongoing distraction.

Sources: LADbible, Sky Sports, Premier League Match Centre