Everton manager David Moyes said the club’s appeal against Idrissa Gueye’s red card was rejected, after the midfielder was sent off against Manchester United on Monday for slapping Michael Keane.
Moyes said in a news conference on Friday that Everton “haven’t been given any reason why” the appeal was turned down, but added they “did appeal it immediately”.
Gueye became the first player in the Premier League in 17 years to be red carded for striking his own team-mate after the incident in the 13th minute.
The Video Assistant Referee upheld the on-field decision on the night, but people briefed on the Merseyside club’s plans indicated Everton’s appeal would be formed on the basis that the force used was ‘negligible’, meaning it would not meet the threshold set out in the rules for violent conduct.
The FA definition of ‘violent conduct’, a red card offence, states: “A player who, when not challenging for the ball, deliberately strikes an opponent or any other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent conduct unless the force used was negligible.”
Gueye had to be restrained by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and then fellow Senegalese Iliman Ndiaye after appearing frustrated that centre-back Keane had not tried to reach his pass, which led to a Bruno Fernandes shot. After confronting and pushing each other, the midfielder then struck his team-mate in the face.
Moyes said on Friday that the Everton squad “moved on quite quickly” following the incident, and that “it was all sorted within the dressing room.”
“It was over immediately, it was done, that was it,” he said. “We want passion. We don’t always want it in the style it showed up on Monday night but we certainly want that passion and that commitment from all the players.”
Everton are unlikely to take further internal action against Gueye after his apology in the dressing room at full-time, which was accepted by Keane and the rest of the squad. The club had hoped that even if they were not successful in overturning the ban, his suspension could at least be reduced.
The two players had to be separated by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
“Emotions can run high but nothing justifies such behaviour,” Gueye, 37, said in an apology on his Instagram story after Everton’s 1-0 win. “I’ll make sure it never happens again.”
The incident was addressed by Everton manager David Moyes in his post-match press conference.
“I was a bit annoyed they were challenging each other but I was also quite pleased because it showed me they cared,” he said. “I’m trying to demand higher standards from everybody. If we hadn’t got that fight or resilience, we would never have got through the rest of the game.”
Moyes also expressed his disappointment the officials had not “taken longer” to think about the decision and suggested common sense should have been applied to an incident involving team-mates. Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, meanwhile, also said he did not agree with the decision.
Everton won the game 1-0 thanks to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s stunning first-half effort shortly after Gueye’s sending off. Their first win at Old Trafford since 2013 saw them jump to 11th in the Premier League table ahead of Saturday’s home match against Newcastle United.