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The Everton midfielder was given a round of applause from his fellow squad members after issuing an apology for his extraordinary red card during the recent victory at Manchester United.

Unprecedented Situation in English Football

Gueye became the first Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a teammate in 17 years when he slapped Michael Keane during the fixture. Everton's performance was remarkable as they competed with a man down for 85 minutes, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'I want to apologise first to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Dressing Room Response

Gueye was unable to secure 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 veteran asked to address the entire group and the defender specifically.

• Gueye apologized to the defender for slapping him across the face
• The intense 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
• Additionally he apologized to the squad for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were positively accepted by the squad

Potential Ramifications

The 36-year-old could still be disciplined by the club despite Moyes' statement that he appreciates his players fighting with each other. Moyes has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is expected to be implemented in Gueye's case.

Suspension and International Duty

Everton could be without their key midfielder until the January. The Senegalese international will serve a three-game suspension against Newcastle, AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but could be selected for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by Senegal before he can return to play against Chelsea on mid-December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' he added. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Reaction

Meanwhile, the Manchester United defender accused his team of lacking urgency in the recent loss, which ended their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Netherlands international
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it becomes challenging

The Red Devils travel to Crystal Palace for the weekend noon kickoff. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'