The incident occurred in the 13th minute while the score was still 0-0. Gueye had turned the ball over in midfield, allowing United’s Bruno Fernandes to fire a shot. In the aftermath, tensions flared between the two Everton players. Keane shoved Gueye during an argument, prompting the midfielder to respond with a left-handed slap to Keane’s face. Referee Tony Harrington immediately issued a red card.
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and winger Iliman Ndiaye quickly intervened, escorting Gueye away from the confrontation. The Premier League’s official match center later confirmed on X that the red card decision had been reviewed by VAR and upheld, describing the action as “a clear strike to the face of Keane.”
The sequence began when Gueye had recovered the ball in Everton’s penalty area and passed it forward, apparently expecting Keane to make a run. When Keane did not move toward the ball, the defender’s subsequent intervention allowed Fernandes to take a shot, which went wide.
The sending-off left Everton with 10 men for the remainder of the first half, further complicating their efforts against the host team. The incident has sparked discussion about on-field discipline and the challenges of managing player tensions during high-pressure matches.