Red for Gueye – That’s why Everton narrowly avoided a penalty

As of: November 25, 2025 8:16 a.m

Idrissa Gueye was shown a red card for a hit on his teammate Michael Keane at Everton FC in the Premier League. Only a break in play saved Everton from a penalty for Manchester United. The situation has famous role models: from Lee Bowyer to Lukas Podolski to Jens Lehmann and Oliver Kahn.

In the 13th minute, Gueye shouted at Keane in his own penalty area, who gave Gueye a little push. The situation escalated: Gueye slapped his teammate with his left hand. Referee Tony Harrington showed Gueye the red card. Other Everton players struggled to keep the two of them away from each other.

Game interruption saves Everton from a penalty

Everton were lucky because the game was interrupted. “If the attack had taken place during the game, there would have been a penalty”says Alex Feuerherdt, spokesman for DFB Schiri GmbH, in an interview with Sportschau. Because the incident happened in Everton’s penalty area. The red card was quite rightly given.

“Unsportsmanlike behavior must generally be sanctioned according to the rules, even if it is directed against spectators or fellow players.”says Feuerherdt. “For an assault, for example, there is an indiscriminate red card – even if a teammate is hit.”

Gueye with remorse: “Nothing justifies such behavior”

Gueye later published words of remorse on social networks and apologized to Keane and the team, club, employees and fans. “Emotions can run high, but nothing justifies such behavior. I will ensure that something like this never happens again.”it said.

Everton coach David Moyes, whose team ultimately won 1-0 in Manchester, even praised the action: “These things happen in football. I like my players arguing with each other or getting annoyed with each other because of a bad ball or a wrong move. If you want a winning team with the resilience and toughness that brought us this result, I think you have to have players who react like that.” Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (29th) scored the only goal of the evening.

Famous role models in the Premier League

The most well-known incident of this kind in England occurred in 2005 at a Newcastle United home game. Lee Bowyer attacked his teammate Kieron Dyer and a real exchange of blows developed. Opposing Aston Villa players had to intervene and after the brawl both opponents were thrown off the pitch.

Lehmann also saw yellow and red

Jens Lehmann was also sent off the pitch for attacking a teammate. In 2003, Borussia Dortmund played in the Revierderby at Schalke 04. In the 80th minute, Lehmann ran 30 meters out of his goal to rudely wake up striker Marcio Amoroso.

Referee Herbert Fandel showed him the second warning: yellow-red. “The rule that a goalkeeper is penalized for running out of his penalty area to talk to his teammate does not exist. That was an invention or a new introduction.”Lehmann complained afterwards – although there is a rule, because the situation went far beyond “talking to each other”. Lehmann at least admitted: “That was stupid of me, maybe we would have won.”

Podolski and Kahn escaped without punishment

Lukas Podolski also provided a similar incident. He slapped then-captain Michael Ballack in Wales’ 2-0 win in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. The referee did not sanction the act on the pitch, nor did the DFB internally later. “It is difficult for the DFB to take disciplinary measures”said the team manager at the time, Oliver Bierhoff. “There will be no fines or other sanctions.”

Ballack, who later missed the World Cup with injury, said: “He is a young player and still has a lot to learn. I had something to say to him and he didn’t agree with it. It was a tactical matter. He has to understand that and must not become violent.” Podolski said: “It started in the first half when Michael had to play to me. In the second half one word gave way to another. I haven’t spoken to him in the dressing room yet, we’ll sort it out in the hotel.”

No penalty for Kahn in 1995/96

The actions of Oliver Kahn as goalkeeper for Bayern Munich in the game at VfB Stuttgart against teammate Andreas Herzog in the 1995/96 season are downright famous. Kahn ran out of his gate, yelled at Herzog, pushed and shook him several times. It was the hot phase of “FC Hollywood”.

Herzog said in the talk show “Doppelpass” in 2022: “This action and the club’s handling of it meant the end for me at Bayern. I didn’t get any support from those in charge afterwards, and instead I was even scolded. Then I thought: ‘Hello, I have no business here anymore.'” Shortly afterwards he returned to Werder Bremen.