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Idrissa Gueye was given a round of applause from his fellow squad members after issuing an explanation for his shocking dismissal during the recent victory at Old Trafford.

Unprecedented Situation in English Football

Gueye became the first Premier League player to be dismissed for hitting a teammate in nearly two decades when he struck Michael Keane during the match. Everton's performance was heroic as they competed with a man down for the majority of the game, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' first win at Old Trafford as a away coach in multiple tries.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' he wrote on social media. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Team Response

The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to converse with Moyes or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old asked to address the whole team and Keane specifically.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for slapping him across the face
• The heated early altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
• He also apologized to the team for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were warmly received by the players

Possible Ramifications

Gueye may yet be punished by the club despite the manager's admission that he likes his team members competing with each other. Moyes has a regular disciplinary procedure for red and yellow cards, including financial penalties, which is expected to be applied in this situation.

Ban and National Team Duty

The Merseyside club could be without their key player until the January. Gueye will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be called up for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by Senegal before he becomes eligible to play against Chelsea on 13 December.

'Passions can sometimes overflow,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Opposition Reaction

Meanwhile, Mathijs de Ligt claimed his team of lacking urgency in the recent loss, which ended their unbeaten run at five games.

• 'The Premier League is not for the weak,' stated the Dutch defender
• 'We were missing the necessary intensity to find the net'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it's difficult

United head to Crystal Palace for Sunday's lunchtime start. 'The next game is really important now,' commented De Ligt. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'