Everton midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye was shown a straight red card in the first half of their Premier League match against Manchester United after striking teammate Michael Keane during a heated exchange inside their own penalty area.

The incident occurred just 13 minutes into the game following a defensive miscommunication that allowed Bruno Fernandes a sight on goal.

After the chance went wide, Keane and Gueye confronted each other angrily, with Keane appearing to shove the midfielder before Gueye reacted with an open-handed strike to Keane’s face.

Referee Tony Harrington immediately produced a red card, and after a VAR review, the decision was upheld. According to the Premier League Match Centre, the dismissal was confirmed on the basis of “a clear strike to the face,” which meets the threshold for violent conduct under league rules.

The Premier League’s regulations state that a red card should be issued for “striking an opponent or any other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, unless the force used was negligible.”

Gueye’s sending-off is one of the rare instances in the Premier League where a player has been dismissed for an altercation with his own teammate.

The last similar event occurred in 2008 when Stoke City’s Ricardo Fuller was sent off for slapping captain Andy Griffin.

Moyes reacts to red card

David Moyes on the other hand says he “quite likes” his players fighting each other after Everton’s Idrissa Gueye was sent off for striking team-mate Michael Keane in the face during his side’s 1-0 Premier League win at Manchester United.

United’s Bruno Fernandes had just gone close to scoring when Gueye and Keane began arguing in the 13th minute at Old Trafford, with the game goalless.

Defender Keane appeared to twice push Gueye away before the Senegal midfielder hit him with an open hand.

Everton’s England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford separated the pair before referee Tony Harrington showed Gueye a straight red card for violent conduct.

“Do you know something, I quite like when my players have a fight,” said Moyes. “I’m sort of saying I want them to be tough.

“I don’t want them to accept someone not doing well enough. Someone didn’t do the right thing.

“If you want a winning team, and that resilience and toughness that got us the result, you have to have players who are going to act that way.”

Pundits split on red card decision

Analysts on Sky Sports offered differing views on whether the punishment was necessary.

Gary Neville questioned the severity of the incident, saying the contact looked minimal:

“There’s no doubt the hand goes to the face, but it didn’t look like much. My gut says it could have been managed with a yellow.”

Jamie Carragher suggested that while the laws make the referee’s decision defendable, there could have been room for discretion.

“The ref could perhaps have brought the two players together and warned them. The wording of the rule gives some leeway,” Carragher noted.

However, Portugal manager Roberto Martínez, also on the panel, argued that the laws left little choice.

“When the action is above the neck, the referee is bound by the rulebook. The reaction may have been minor, but the law is clear,” he said.

Everton were forced to continue with ten men following the dismissal, with Keane remaining on the pitch.

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