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The Everton midfielder received a round of applause from his Everton teammates after issuing an apology for his extraordinary dismissal during the recent victory at Manchester United.

Unprecedented Incident in English Football

The midfielder earned the distinction of being the first Premier League player to be dismissed for striking a teammate in 17 years when he slapped his defensive colleague during the match. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they played with 10 men for the majority of the game, including added time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in 18 attempts.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I take full responsibility for my reaction.'

Team Response

Gueye did not get an chance to converse with Moyes or his teammates at the interval. Afterwards, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the narrow victory, the 36-year-old requested to speak to the entire group and the defender in particular.

• Gueye apologized to the defender for slapping him across the head
• The heated early confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
• He also said sorry to the squad for putting them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were warmly received by the squad

Potential Consequences

Gueye may yet be disciplined by the club despite the manager's statement that he appreciates his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is expected to be applied in this situation.

Ban and International Commitments

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their influential midfielder until the new year. The Senegalese international will serve a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for AFCON responsibilities by his national team before he can return to play against the Blues on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'But nothing justifies such behaviour.'

Opposition Reaction

At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused his team of showing no immediacy in the recent defeat, which halted their winning streak at multiple matches.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' said the Dutch defender
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging

United travel to Crystal Palace for the weekend lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented De Ligt. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'