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

Rare Incident in English Football

Gueye earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be sent off for hitting a fellow player in nearly two decades when he struck his defensive colleague during the fixture. Everton's performance was remarkable as they competed with a man down for 85 minutes, including stoppage time, to secure David Moyes' initial victory at Old Trafford as a visiting manager in multiple tries.

'My first apology goes to Michael Keane,' Gueye stated on his accounts. 'I accept complete responsibility for my actions.'

Dressing Room Response

The Senegalese international was unable to secure an chance to speak with Moyes or his colleagues at half-time. Following the match, with the away dressing room buzzing after the narrow victory, the veteran asked to speak to the whole team and the defender in particular.

• Gueye apologized to the defender for striking him across the head
• The intense 13th-minute confrontation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own penalty area
• Additionally he apologized to the squad for putting them with a difficult challenge
• His apology were warmly received by the squad

Possible Ramifications

The 36-year-old could still be punished by Everton despite the manager's admission that he likes his players competing with each other. The Scot has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is likely to be implemented in Gueye's case.

Ban and International Commitments

Everton could be without their influential midfielder until the January. Gueye will serve a three-game ban against Newcastle United, Bournemouth and Forest but could 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,' Gueye continued. 'However, there's no excuse for such conduct.'

Rival Reaction

At the same time, the Manchester United defender claimed United of lacking urgency in Monday's loss, which halted their unbeaten run at multiple matches.

• 'English football doesn't tolerate weakness,' said the Netherlands international
• 'We lacked that urgency to score goals,'
• 'Against a team like Everton,' who drop back it becomes challenging

The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for the weekend noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said the defender. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'