Idrissa Gueye’s sending off just 13 minutes into Everton’s dramatic 1–0 win over Manchester United will go down as one of the strangest Premier League dismissals of the season. But while the incident itself caused confusion inside Old Trafford, the reactions of Michael Keane and Jordan Pickford painted a clearer picture than any replay.
The moment unfolded after a dangerous United attack broke down. Gueye, clearly frustrated with how the situation had been defended, turned to confront Michael Keane. Words were exchanged, their heads came together, and then came the flashpoint: Gueye raised his hand and appeared to flick or slap Keane on the side of the face.
Sky Sports cameras cut away briefly, but as they returned, referee Tony Harrington was already holding the red card aloft. The home crowd roared, unsure of what had happened — and even the commentators were stunned.
Pickford and Keane’s Reaction Spoke Volumes
While fans debated whether the contact was forceful enough to merit a sending off, journalist Laurie Whitwell noticed something significant: neither Pickford nor Keane protested.
Keane’s response was particularly telling. Instead of appealing to the referee or defending his teammate, he immediately gestured toward the tunnel — almost as if to say “you crossed the line.”
Pickford, usually one of the first to charge up to officials, barely reacted at all. His body language suggested he felt the red card was the natural consequence of the outburst.
For many watching, that silence said everything.
Should the Referee Have Shown More Understanding?
The Premier League rulebook is clear: any strike to the head teammate or not — is violent conduct unless the force is negligible. But that context is where the debate lies.
This wasn’t Bowyer vs. Dyer in 2005, nor anything close to a fight. It was a flash of frustration, the kind of heat-of-the-moment disagreement that happens behind closed doors at every club.
Gary Neville questioned whether the contact carried enough force to justify the punishment. Jamie Carragher went further, suggesting the referee could have pulled both players aside, warned them, and kept the match 11-v-11.
The law gives room for interpretation. In this case, Harrington didn’t use it.
Moyes and Amorim: “We Want Players Who Fight For Each Other”
Everton boss David Moyes surprised many with his reaction. While he admitted he didn’t expect a red card, he said he likes players holding each other accountable — even if that means emotions spilling over.
“If you want toughness and resilience, sometimes players will fight each other,” Moyes said. “He’s apologised, we move on.”
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim also disagreed with the dismissal and went even further, saying fights between teammates often reflect passion rather than disrespect.
“Fighting is not bad. Fighting means you care,” he said.
Dewsbury-Hall: “A Moment of Madness” — But Everton Responded Perfectly
Match-winner Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall didn’t sugarcoat it.
“It was a moment of madness,” he told Sky Sports.
But he praised the squad’s reaction. Instead of collapsing, Everton grew stronger, defended deep, countered smartly, and delivered their first win at Old Trafford since 2013.
At full-time, Gueye apologized to the squad in the dressing room and posted a public apology accepting full responsibility.
A Costly Suspension Ahead
Because the incident counts as violent conduct, Gueye now faces a three-match ban, ruling him out of:
Newcastle (H) Bournemouth (A) Nottingham Forest (H)
More worrying for Everton, the suspension rolls straight into AFCON 2025, meaning the midfielder could miss 10 of the next 11 matches, depending on Senegal’s progress in the tournament.
A Rare Premier League Incident
Gueye is now only the third player in Premier League history sent off for striking a teammate, joining:
Lee Bowyer & Kieron Dyer (2005) Ricardo Fuller (2008)
It’s an incident that will be replayed, debated and laughed about for years — but in the moment, it revealed something important:
Everton’s players didn’t defend Gueye because they felt he crossed a line.
And yet, they still rallied to produce one of their grittiest away wins in over a decade.
