Everton's attempt to overturn midfielder Idrissa Gueye's red card from Monday's Premier League victory over Manchester United has been unsuccessful, with the Football Association (FA) dismissing the appeal but failing to provide any rationale to the club.
The incident occurred in the 13th minute at Old Trafford, where Everton secured a hard-fought 1-0 win despite being reduced to 10 men. Gueye, a 36-year-old Senegal international and a mainstay in David Moyes' midfield, was dismissed for violent conduct after slapping teammate Michael Keane during a heated on-pitch exchange. Frustration boiled over when Keane failed to connect with a pass from Gueye near the Everton penalty area, leading to a shot from Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes. Words were exchanged, culminating in Gueye's open-handed strike across Keane's face, which referee Tony Harrington deemed deliberate and warranting a straight red card. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviewed the footage and upheld the decision.
This marked the first time in 17 years that a Premier League player had been sent off for striking a teammate, highlighting the rarity of such intra-team altercations. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford quickly intervened to separate the pair, and the matter was resolved internally post-match, with Gueye issuing an apology to Keane and the squad in the dressing room. Everton's social media channels later shared a lighthearted image of the duo embracing while wearing boxing gloves, signaling that harmony had been restored.
"We appealed immediately, but it was turned down," Moyes confirmed during a pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's home clash with Newcastle United. "We haven't been given any reason why, but we did appeal it—straight away." The Everton manager emphasized the club's desire for passion on the pitch, noting, "It was over immediately... We want that commitment from all the players," while acknowledging the lapse in judgment.
The rejection upholds a standard three-match suspension for violent conduct, sidelining Gueye for upcoming fixtures against Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest. This absence compounds Everton's midfield woes, with fellow midfielder Merlin Röhl recovering from hernia surgery until January and captain Seamus Coleman nursing a hamstring strain. Gueye, who has started every league game this season, is also slated to join Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations in December, further straining resources.
Everton, currently 11th in the Premier League with 18 points from 12 matches, will look to build on their momentum at Goodison Park—soon to be rebranded as Hill Dickinson Stadium—against a resurgent Newcastle side on Saturday (17:30 GMT). While internal disciplinary action remains undecided, Moyes indicated that Gueye's remorse has been well-received, potentially sparing him a club fine beyond informal team gestures like footing the bill for a squad dinner.
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