Everton’s win at Old Trafford should’ve been remembered solely for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s gorgeous match-winner — and for David Moyes finally breaking his 21-year Old Trafford hoodoo as a visiting manager.
Instead, it’ll forever come with an asterisk: Idrissa Gueye getting sent off… for slapping his own teammate.
Yes, really.
The madness unfolded inside 13 minutes. Gueye recovered the ball in Everton’s box and rolled a pass into space, expecting Michael Keane to mop it up. Keane didn’t. Bruno Fernandes did — and although the United captain dragged his shot wide, the real drama kicked off after.
Keane shoved Gueye, Gueye responded with a left-handed slap, and referee Tony Harrington had no choice but to flash a straight red. Jordan Pickford and Iliman
Ndiaye sprinted in like bouncers at closing time, dragging Gueye away before things got even sillier.
And here’s the wild part:
It was only the third time in Premier League history — and the first since 2008 — that a player has been sent off for fighting with his own teammate.
According to Opta, the dishonour roll now reads:
- 2005: Newcastle’s infamous Lee Bowyer vs. Kieron Dyer brawl — both sent off.
- 2008: Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller slapped captain Andy Griffin and walked.
- 2025: Idrissa Gueye joins the club after his altercation with Keane.
Fuller’s moment of madness came after Griffin slipped, gifting West Ham an equaliser. Bowyer vs. Dyer? Still one of the most chaotic PL meltdowns ever — Gareth Barry literally had to break up two teammates punching each other.
Compared to those, Gueye’s slap was brief… but historic.
The irony? Everton still won. Down to 10 men for 77 minutes, they dug in, frustrated a limp Manchester United, and snatched their first Old Trafford victory since December 2013.
Gueye made Premier League history for all the wrong reasons — but Everton walked away with three points for all the right ones.
