Idrissa Gueye sent off for slapping team-mate as David Moyes admits he ‘quite likes’ Everton infighting - reaction | OneFootball

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David Moyes' bizarre reaction to Idrissa Gueye being sent off for slapping Everton teammate after United win

David Moyes’s 10-man Everton held on to claim an extraordinary win at Manchester United after Idrissa Gueye was sent off just 13 minutes into the match for slapping team-mate Michael Keane.

Gueye became the first Premier League player to be sent off for fighting a team-mate since 2008 after raising his left hand to slap Keane, following an argument over a loose pass from Gueye that had presented a chance to Bruno Fernandes.

Referee Tony Harrington immediately produced the red card, which was confirmed by VAR Paul Howard, and Everton then stunned Old Trafford by taking the lead thanks to a stunning strike from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall on the half-hour mark.

Improbably, Dewsbury-Hall’s goal was enough for Everton to claim their first win at Old Trafford since 2013, when Moyes was United manager, and end the hosts’ recent resurgence under Ruben Amorim. But the red card remained the big talking point, with Moyes backing his players afterwards, saying “I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn't do the right action. If you want that toughness and resilience to get a result, you want someone to act on it.”

On Sky Sports, Gary Neville said Gueye’s slap did not warrant a sending off, adding: “They were not fighting, it wasn't a scrap. It could have been dealt with by a yellow. I don't think it needed to be a red.” But the Premier League said: “The referee’s call of red card to Gueye for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed to be a clear strike to the face of Keane.”

Should Michael Keane have been sent off too?

Idrissa Gueye was the villain of yesterday’s scrap - he was the one who squared up to his Everton team-mate Michael Keane before slapping the defender.

But when watching the incident back, there is the argument that Keane physically escalated things with a push when Gueye was getting in his face.

Fair reaction?

(PA Wire)

Will Castle25 November 2025 09:40

David Moyes wins at Old Trafford for first time as away manager

There was a beaming smile on the face of David Moyes as he walked into the Old Trafford tunnel last night - and for all that went on, you can’t blame him!

It was his first win at Old Trafford as an away manager! It’s Everton’s first win at Manchester United since 2013, when Moyes was in charge of United!

(Getty Images)

David Moyes says Idrissa Gueye has apologised for slap

Idrissa Gueye apologised to Michael Keane and his team-mates after he was sent off for slapping the Everton defender.

"I'm disappointed we get the sending off,” David Moyes said. “But we've all been footballers, we get angry with our team-mates.

“He's apologised for the sending off, he's praised the players and thanked them for it and apologised for what happened."

“It was a moment of madness, avoidable,” Kienan Dewsbury-Hall said.

But all I can say is Idrissa has apologised to us at full-time, said his piece and that's all he can do. We move on from it. The reaction from us, was unbelievable. Top tier. We could have crumbled but if anything, it made us grow.

Idrissa Gana Gueye had to be held back after being sent off for slapping team-mate Michael Keane (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

David Moyes on Idrissa Gueye’s red card: ‘I like my players fighting each other’

David Moyes won at Manchester United as an away manager for the first time in 18 attempts as he praised the “togetherness and resilience” of his Everton team despite Idrissa Gueye’s red card for slapping team-mate Michael Keane.

On an extraordinary night at Old Trafford, Everton became the first team in Premier League history to beat United away from home while down to 10 men, as Moyes defeated his former employers.

“I got told that the rules of the game that if you slap your own player, you could be in trouble,” Moyes said.

“But there's another side to it: I like my players fighting each other, if someone didn't do the right action. If you want that toughness and resilience to get a result, you want someone to act on it.”

David Moyes on Idrissa Gueye’s red card: ‘I like my players fighting each other’

A delighted Everton boss praised the spirit of his team despite Gueye’s red card for slapping Michael Keane as he secured victory at Old Trafford for the first time in 18 attempts

Jamie Braidwood25 November 2025 07:55

How Everton showed the right ‘fight’ after Idrissa Gueye’s moment of madness

A slap in the face from Idrissa Gueye became a kick in the teeth for Ruben Amorim. The stinging blow was not the one that brought perhaps the season’s strangest sending off. Not as Manchester United’s unbeaten run came to an abrupt, abject end. If ignominy seemed to belong to Everton when Gueye was shown the red card, theirs was a defiant glory. The team who fought each other beat the team with no fight.

On a night of unexpected incidents, a footballer was sent off for violent conduct against a team-mate and David Moyes won at Old Trafford. Some may wonder which was the odder.

How Everton showed the right ‘fight’ after Idrissa Gueye’s moment of madness

Manchester United 0-1 Everton: A spirited David Moyes won at Old Trafford in the Premier League for the first time as an away manager - and the ridiculous red card made it all the greater a night for the Toffees

Richard Jolly25 November 2025 06:55

Why was Idrissa Gueye sent off after fighting with Everton team-mate?

Everton’s Idrissa Gueye was sent off just 13 minutes into his side’s match at Manchester United after slapping team-mate Michael Keane in an extraordinary incident that left the visitors down to 10 men at Old Trafford.

Everton went on to claim a stunning victory after playing for more than 80 minutes down to 10 men as David Moyes and his players held on to the advantage secured by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half strike.

But the big talking point came early in the game as Gueye became the first Premier League player to be sent off for fighting a team-mate since 2008.

Why was Idrissa Gueye sent off after fighting with Everton team-mate?

Gueye become the first Premier League player to be sent off for fighting with a team-mate since 2008 as Everton faced Manchester United at Old Trafford

Jamie Braidwood25 November 2025 05:55

Idrissa Gueye apologises for red card: 'Nothing justifies such behaviour'

Gueye was sent off for violent conduct, he will serve a three-man ban. However, the Senegal international will go to the Africa Cup of Nations at the start of December, so he may not play for Everton again for a couple of months.

Gueye later apologised for the incident in a social media post. “I want to apologise first to my teammate Michael Keane. I take full responsibility for my reaction," he wrote on Instagram.

“I also apologise to my teammates, 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.

“I'll make sure it never happens again."

(REUTERS)