Credits: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo

Idrissa Gueye Red Card: What Happened That Led to One of Premier League’s Most Bizarre Cards?

Credits: IMAGO / Sports Press Photo

Everton’s trip to Old Trafford produced a bizarre moment that will be replayed for years. It wasn’t because of a unusual goal or a controversial decision from the referee. It was rather the result of an altercation between two players wearing the same shirt. The first-half dismissal of Idrissa Gueye stunned everyone at Old Trafford.

It took everyone a minute to figure out what had just unfolded in front of their eyes. The incident started with a wave of frustration after a Manchester United attack nearly punished a misplaced Everton pass. Tempers flared instantly. Gueye, visibly irritated, seemed to be confronting his own teammate Michael Keane and the play came to a halt.

Idrissa Gueye was sent off after putting his hands on teammate Michael Keane 🟥

He even did the same to Jordan Pickford when he tried to break it up.

Everton still went 1-0 up vs. United just 16 minutes later 😮 pic.twitter.com/75aRji30PC
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) November 24, 2025

It began as an argument but escalated in the blink of an eye. It seemed that in the heat of the moment, Gueye raised his hand and struck Keane’s face. The whole incident occurred just a few steps away from referee Tony Harrington. Everton players rushed toward the pair, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford acting as the primary peacekeeper.

Harrington, having seen the contact clearly, reached straight for the red card. VAR later validated the decision. They classified the action as violent conduct. The Premier League’s rulebook leaves little room for interpretation when a player’s hand makes deliberate contact with the head or face of “any other person.” Well, teammate or not.

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Idrissa Gueye Joins Bizarre List

Reaction to the incident spiralled almost as quickly as the confrontation itself. Many insisted that the incident didn’t reach the threshold for a sending-off. They argued that the force was minimal. Others argued that the laws of the game, rather than the severity, meant that the referee was obliged to act.

Gueye even attempted to confront Keane again while he was being guided off the pitch. Disbelief settled across the ground among Everton players. Fans began bringing up historical comparisons on social media. They started recalling rare cases where Premier League teammates turned their anger inward.

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What happened at Old Trafford now joins that small and certainly infamous list. Despite being reduced to 10 men, Everton momentarily stunned the crowd by scoring the opener through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. And they did an excellent job of holding onto that 0-1 lead till the last minute, winning the game against the Red Devils.

However, undoubtedly, the red card became the story of the match, overshadowing their impressive win against a the Red Devils despite being a man down. It raised questions that fans didn’t know they even had. A disciplinary review will soon determine the length of Gueye’s suspension. And to add to his misfortune, the discussion regarding the bizarre incident will remain for a long time.

Everton

Idrissa Gueye

Manchester United

Manchester United vs Everton

Premier League

Moumita Dutta

soccer

Football writer at The Playoffs. I’ve been obsessed with the beautiful game since I was a kid.. Eventually, I realized I could combine my passion for writing with my love for football, and I’ve never looked back. My favorite part of the job is everything—when you’re doing what you love, even a late-night deadline feels like extra time in a thrilling cup final. Lastly, Lionel Messi is the GOAT.