In a shocking moment of Premier League drama, Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye was shown a straight red card for slapping his own teammate, Michael Keane, during a heated first-half argument at Old Trafford.
The incredible incident, which occurred in the 13th minute of Monday's match, overshadowed what became a historic 1-0 victory for the visitors – their first league win at Manchester United's home ground since 2013.
Dramatic Red Card Alters Match Dynamics
The confrontation unfolded when Gueye approached defender Keane, was pushed away, and then retaliated by slapping Keane on the cheek. Referee Tony Harrington had no choice but to dismiss the Senegalese international for violent conduct, leaving Everton to play the remainder of the match with only ten men.
Despite being a man down, Everton showed remarkable resilience. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored the winning goal in the 29th minute, securing a famous victory that ended United's five-game unbeaten run in the competition.
Moyes Defends Player Passion After Apology
Everton manager David Moyes offered a surprising defence of his player's actions in the post-match press conference. "I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn't do the right action," Moyes stated. "If you want that toughness and resilience to get a result, you want someone to act on it."
The Scottish manager did acknowledge that Gueye had apologised to his teammates for the sending off and had praised them for securing the victory despite his early dismissal. Moyes expressed disappointment with the red card decision, suggesting the referee could have taken more time to consider the circumstances.
"We've all been footballers, we get angry with our teammates," Moyes added, highlighting the high-pressure environment of professional football.
United's Setback in Champions League Pursuit
The defeat represents a significant setback for Manchester United, who remain on 18 points in the Premier League table, two behind Crystal Palace in fifth place. The fifth position may again be sufficient to secure Champions League qualification this season.
United head coach Ruben Amorim echoed Moyes's sentiment about the on-pitch confrontation, stating: "Fighting is not a bad thing. Fighting doesn't mean that they don't like each other." Amorim also disagreed with the decision to send Gueye off.
However, Amorim acknowledged his team's performance was lacking, saying: "We were not perfect today. We need to be perfect to win games." The loss was particularly disappointing as it marked the first time United have failed to win at home in the league against a team that had a player sent off.
The match was also notable for the absence of Matheus Cunha, who was ruled out due to a head injury.
