Yes, we all saw that happen.
In the 13th minute of Everton’s clash against Manchester United, an incident between Michael Keane and Idrissa Gana Gueye led to the Senegalese midfielder being sent off. Gueye delivered a bad pass to Keane, and the defender made his thoughts known to Gueye, who then retaliated by slapping Keane in the face right in front of the main referee.
Such an incident is incredibly rare in the world of football (one of the most remembered being in 2005 between Lee Bowyer and Kieran Dyer) and was only one of a few peculiar incidents in the first half. Seamus Coleman came off within the first 10 minutes of the match due to injury, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scored a banger shortly after Gueye came off the pitch.
Funnily enough, the incident almost seemed to rattle Manchester United as much as the Toffees, as United struggled to create chances in the first half.
Nevertheless, Gueye and, to a lesser extent, Keane should be absolutely ashamed of their behavior. To be given a red card for a reckless tackle is one thing, but to be handed one for a scuffle with a teammate is deplorable. Gueye needed to keep his head in the game, and he simply didn’t, which further worsened Everton’s situation despite KDH scoring later in the half.
Don’t be surprised if Moyes disciplines both players after the game heavily. The Premier League is as close as it can be right now, and grabbing points in away games is crucial; Gueye’s decision will surely have ramifications that will still be felt after the game.