Red Card Reality: Gueye Apology After Teammate Scuffle at Old Trafford
25 November 2025
Incident and Red Card at Old Trafford
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye issued an immediate apology for the red-card incident that occurred during Monday's Premier League clash with Manchester United.
In the 13th minute, teammates Keane and Gueye exchanged heated words after one United attack.
The confrontation escalated into a brief physical exchange, and the referee showed Gueye a red card for allegedly striking a teammate, hitting the English defender.
Aftermath and Reactions
Moments earlier, Everton manager David Moyes made an injury-enforced substitution, bringing on Jack O’Brien for Seamus Coleman.
TV footage showed the exchange between the two; Gueye was dismissed, and the home side continued with ten men after Coleman’s injury forced the substitution.
Gueye posted an Instagram apology, saying he takes full responsibility and apologizes to his teammate, the squad, the staff, the fans, and the club, stressing that such conduct does not reflect his values and that he will strive to prevent a recurrence.
The match finished with a 1-0 Everton victory thanks to a goal by Diosbury Hall in the 29th minute, guiding the Toffees to victory at United's ground.
United stayed 10th with 18 points, while Everton rose to 11th on the same tally, with goal difference separating the two sides.
It was notably the first time since December 2013 that Everton defeated United on their own turf, according to Sky (Skoooka) Stats.
Sky also noted United had failed to win in their last 10 league games when trailing at halftime, losing eight and drawing two.
Everton had not been beaten in 20 league games when scoring the first goal, winning 13 and drawing 7, with Diosbury Hall netting his first Premier League goal with his right boot after all four previous goals had come with his left foot.
The match also sparked a broader discussion about players' conduct: direct red cards for intra-squad violence are rare yet underscore the importance of sportsmanship and team unity above individual flare.
In such cases, referees must enforce the rules consistently, as the code prohibits aggression within the squad, even if emotions run high during a tense encounter.
Ultimately, the incident serves as a reminder that discipline and unity are prerequisites for success, and any misstep can ripple through the entire team and its supporters.
Punchline 1: If football were a comedy club, that red card would be the opening act—lots of standing ovations, but still no full set for Gueye.
Punchline 2: They say football is life; apparently, for some players, life is a yellow card and a punchline—tonight's lesson: keep your fists in your pockets, folks.
