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Idrissa Gueye was given a warm ovation from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary red card during the recent triumph at Manchester United.

Rare Incident in Premier League

The midfielder earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the fixture. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they competed with a man down for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a away coach in 18 attempts.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' he wrote on his accounts. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Team Reaction

The Senegalese international did not get an chance to speak with Moyes or his teammates at the interval. Afterwards, with the visitors' locker room celebrating after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to speak to the entire group and the defender specifically.

• He expressed regret to the defender for slapping him across the face
• The intense early altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
• He also apologized to the team for leaving them with a monumental task
• Gueye's words were positively accepted by the squad

Potential Consequences

The 36-year-old could still be punished by the club despite the manager's admission that he likes his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including fines, which is likely to be implemented in this situation.

Ban and National Team Duty

Everton could be without their influential player until the January. Gueye will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be called up for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by Senegal before he can return to play against Chelsea on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Opposition Reaction

Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender claimed his team of lacking immediacy in the recent defeat, which ended their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Netherlands international
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging

The Red Devils travel to Selhurst Park for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' commented De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'