Gueye Sent Off After Slapping Keane in Bizarre Incident

Manchester, England – Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye was dramatically sent off just 13 minutes into their Premier League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday night after slapping teammate Michael Keane. The bizarre incident occurred following a tense exchange between the two players after a missed opportunity by Manchester United.

The sequence of events leading to the dismissal began with a poor pass from Gueye inside Everton's penalty area, which allowed United skipper Bruno Fernandes a shot that went narrowly wide. Visibly frustrated, Gueye confronted Keane, and the two players squared up to each other. In a moment of lost composure, Gueye raised his left hand and slapped Keane in the face.

Referee Tony Harrington immediately brandished a red card, a decision that was subsequently confirmed by VAR. The Premier League Match Centre stated that the red card was for violent conduct, citing "a clear strike to the face of Keane".

Even after the red card was shown, Gueye's anger was evident, and he had to be restrained by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford before heading down the tunnel.

The sending off forced Everton manager David Moyes into an early reshuffle, compounding an already difficult start to the game, as Séamus Coleman had been forced off with an injury just three minutes earlier.

The incident sparked debate among fans and pundits, with some questioning whether the punishment was justified for what appeared to be a relatively light slap between teammates. Joe Hart, analyzing the game for BBC Radio 5 Live, suggested that Gueye may have been harshly treated, noting that the referee was not close enough to hear the exchange between the players. Hart also pointed out that Keane, a considerably larger player, had initially pushed Gueye away. "If that's all that happened though, it isn't a red card. Something must've been brewing between them two. We'll see how this one unfolds...," Hart stated.

However, others argued that any contact of that nature, regardless of the force, warranted a sending off. Journalist Laurie Whitwell highlighted the reactions of Keane and Pickford, noting that neither player protested the referee's decision, suggesting they felt Gueye's actions were out of line. Keane gestured towards the tunnel, seemingly indicating that Gueye deserved to be sent off.

Despite being reduced to ten men, Everton surprisingly took the lead later in the game through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.