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The Everton midfielder was given a warm ovation from his fellow squad members after issuing an apology for his shocking dismissal during the recent victory at Manchester United.

Rare Incident in Premier League

Gueye earned the distinction of being the initial Premier League player to be sent off for striking a teammate in 17 years when he slapped Michael Keane during the match. 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 away coach in multiple tries.

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

Dressing Room Response

The Senegalese international was unable to secure an opportunity to converse with the manager or his teammates at the interval. Following the match, with the visitors' locker room buzzing after the 1-0 win, the 36-year-old requested to speak to the entire group and the defender in particular.

• Gueye apologized to Keane for slapping him across the face
• The heated 13th-minute altercation occurred after a misplaced pass in his own defensive third
• He also said sorry to the squad for leaving them with a difficult challenge
• Gueye's words were positively accepted by the squad

Possible Ramifications

The 36-year-old may yet be punished by Everton despite Moyes' admission that he appreciates his team members fighting with each other. The Scot has a regular disciplinary procedure for dismissals and cautions, including financial penalties, which is likely to be applied in Gueye's case.

Ban and International Commitments

The Merseyside club may find themselves without their key player until the January. The Senegalese international will complete a three-match ban against Newcastle, Bournemouth and Forest but might be selected for Africa Cup of Nations responsibilities by his national team 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

At the same time, the Manchester United defender accused his team of showing no immediacy in the recent defeat, which ended their winning streak 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,' that defend deep it's difficult

The Red Devils head to Crystal Palace for Sunday's noon kickoff. 'The next game is really important now,' said De Ligt. 'We must recover strongly from this display.'