Everton’s Idrissa Gueye was sent off for striking team-mate Michael Keane in the face during his side’s 1-0 Premier League win at Manchester United.
United’s Bruno Fernandes had just gone close to scoring when Gueye and Keane began arguing in the 13th minute at Old Trafford, with the game goalless.
Defender Keane appeared to twice push Gueye away before the midfielder hit him with an open hand.
Everton’s England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to pull the pair apart before referee Tony Harrington showed Gueye a straight red card for violent conduct.
The Premier League Match Centre later posted on X: “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.”
The law for violent conduct defines a sending off offence as striking an opponent or any other person, on the head or face with their hand or arm, unless the force used was negligible.
According to Opta, it is only the third time on record (since 2000-01) a player has been sent off in the Premier League for clashing with own team-mate after Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer – for Newcastle against Aston Villa in 2005 – and Ricardo Fuller with Andy Griffin for Stoke in 2008 against West Ham.
Despite playing most of the game with 10 men, Everton won thanks to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 29th-minute goal.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart said “something must have been brewing” between the two players before the red card.
“The referee wasn’t even close enough to hear what Idrissa Gueye was saying but he was in Michael Keane’s face, who is considerably bigger than him and shoved him off with one arm,” added Hart.
“When he came over to continue the argument, the referee just casually walked over and sent him off. Jordan Pickford did very well in the situation.
“If that’s all that happened though, it isn’t a red card. Something must have been brewing between the two of them.”
‘Gueye slapped Keane around the face’
Former assistant referee Darren Cann, who officiated in more than 1,000 professional matches, described the clash between Gueye and Keane as “unusual”.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he added: “Tony Harrington was looking directly at the confrontation. He had an unobstructed view and clearly saw Gueye slap Keane around the face, so in the laws of football that would constitute to violent conduct and a red card is the right decision.
“For Michael Keane’s push to be violent conduct, it would need to be on the face as opposed to on the chest.
“Of course you can still be sent off if you punch somebody in the chest, but I would suggest that Keane’s push away was more him telling Gueye to get off him.”
Former Everton boss Roberto Martinez, speaking on Sky Sports, said he was “very surprised” at the clash.
“There is a bit of a misunderstanding between them,” added the Portugal boss.
“The referee has no choice, the law tells you that is a red card.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, also speaking on Sky Sports, added: “We are talking about a slap. Can the referee manage the situation [differently]? When you look at the laws, it gives the ref an out.”
‘Yellow card would have been enough’
Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, said the clash was not on the same scale as “Bowyer v Dyer”.
The Newcastle team-mates were sent off in disgrace for fighting during their side’s 3-0 home defeat by Aston Villa in 2005.
“The major anger he showed was after he was sent off. It looked innocuous,” added Neville. “My gut feeling is yellow would have been enough.”
There have been many instances of team-mates clashing in the Premier League and escaping a red card.
With Tottenham leading 1-0 against Everton in 2020, then Spurs captain Hugo Lloris took exception to Son Heung-min failing to track back.
The Frenchman ran over and shoved Son in the back as the teams left the pitch at half-time, prompting a furious reaction that was forgotten after the break as they held on for a win.
Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar was furious with team-mate Steve McManaman after a poor clearance allowed Everton to score in a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in 1993.
McManaman argued back, angering Grobbelaar further and leading the keeper to grab his young team-mate and push him in the face. McManaman pushed back before retreating.
Aston Villa team-mates Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings clashed in a goalless draw with West Ham in 2019. More recently, Arsenal’s Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko were involved in a heated confrontation in 2024.
‘Pathetic & immature’ – what you said
Phil in Oxford: I’m a Manchester United fan and while the little slap was quite unbelievable, I don’t think it merited a straight red. A yellow card is fine. While I understand it is ‘violent conduct’, he is gaining no advantage by slapping his own team-mate.
Jim, Fulham: I haven’t seen anything like this since Lee Bowyer/Kieron Dyer.
Alan, Aberdeen: I cannot believe Michael Keane has told Idrissa Gueye to get off and sent him on his way. There is no way that is a red card and Keane should’ve surely tried to defuse the situation. I’m not impressed with him.
Adam, Rotherham: It might sound reactionary, but he can’t play for Everton again. That is appalling. There is no apology big enough. Some team-mates don’t get on, that’s life. But that performance was pathetic and immature.
