Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye entered the Premier League history books for all the wrong reasons during Monday's match against Manchester United, receiving a controversial red card for striking teammate Michael Keane.
Unprecedented Dismissal
The incident occurred in the 15th minute after a defensive miscommunication led to a Manchester United scoring opportunity. Replays showed Gueye raising his hand to Keane's face during the ensuing confrontation, prompting referee Tony Harrington to brandish a straight red card for violent conduct.
"Was the force negligible? That's the question. I think it was negligible - there wasn't much in that at all,"
commented Sky Sports analyst Gary Neville, who questioned the severity of the decision during live coverage.
Historical Context
This marks only the third such dismissal in Premier League history:
- 2005: Lee Bowyer vs Kieron Dyer (Newcastle teammates)
- 2008: Ricardo Fuller vs Andy Griffin (Stoke City)
- 2025: Idrissa Gueye vs Michael Keane
Pundits Divided
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher suggested alternative handling:
"Could the referee have managed the situation better? Bring them together and say 'behave yourselves' rather than going straight to red."
Premier League rules stipulate that any head/face contact constitutes violent conduct unless deemed "negligible" - a nuance that dominated post-match discussions.
Team Reaction
Teammates including Jordan Pickford quickly intervened to separate the players, with Iliman Ndiaye eventually escorting Gueye down the tunnel. The incident recalls Stoke's 2008 episode where Ricardo Fuller claimed his similar dismissal actually strengthened team morale.
Everton now face disciplinary repercussions as they navigate Premier League survival, while Gueye's suspension could extend given the unusual nature of the offense.
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