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

Rare Incident in Premier League

The midfielder became the first Premier League player to be sent off for striking a teammate in 17 years when he slapped his defensive colleague during the fixture. The Toffees' display was remarkable as they competed with a man down for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to achieve David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in 18 attempts.

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

Team Reaction

The Senegalese international did not get an opportunity to converse with the manager or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the away dressing room celebrating after the narrow victory, the 36-year-old asked to address the entire group and Keane in particular.

• Gueye apologized to the defender for slapping him across the head
• The heated early altercation occurred after a poor distribution in his own defensive third
• He also said sorry to the squad for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were warmly received by the squad

Possible Ramifications

The 36-year-old may yet be punished by the club despite Moyes' statement that he likes his players fighting with each other. The Scot has a standard disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including fines, which is expected to be applied in Gueye's case.

Suspension and National Team Commitments

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their influential midfielder until the January. Gueye will complete a three-match suspension against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest but might be selected for Africa Cup of Nations duty by his national team before he becomes eligible to play against the Blues on mid-December.

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

Rival Perspective

At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused his team of lacking immediacy in the recent loss, which ended their winning streak at five games.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Dutch defender
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'When facing sides like Everton,' that defend deep it's difficult

United head to Selhurst Park for the weekend lunchtime start. 'Our upcoming match is absolutely crucial,' commented the defender. 'We have to bounce back from this performance.'