Everton's Gueye sent off for clash with team-mate Keane

Idrissa Gueye received his second red card in the Premier League (241st appearance) and his first since October 2017

Everton's Idrissa Gueye was sent off for clashing with team-mate Michael Keane during the Premier League match at Manchester United.

United's Bruno Fernandes had just gone close to scoring when Gueye and Keane began arguing with one another in the 13th minute at Old Trafford, with the game goalless.

Defender Keane appeared to twice push Gueye away before the midfielder appeared to put his hand in Keane's face.

Everton's England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford had to pull the pair apart before referee Tony Harrington showed Gueye a straight red card for violent conduct.

The Premier League Match Centre later posted on X: "The referee's call of red card to Gueye for violent conduct was checked and confirmed by VAR – with the action deemed to be a clear strike to the face of Keane."

The law for violent conduct defines a sending off offence as striking an opponent or any other person, on the head or face with their hand or arm, unless the force used was negligible.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart said "something must have been brewing" between the two players before the red card.

"The referee wasn't even close enough to hear what Idrissa Gueye was saying but he was in Michael Keane's face, who is considerably bigger than him and shoved him off with one arm," added Hart.

"When he came over to continue the argument, the referee just casually walked over and sent him off. Jordan Pickford did very well in the situation.

"If that's all that happened though, it isn't a red card. Something must've been brewing between them two."

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Everton took the lead through Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's 29th-minute goal.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford intervened to separate Gueye and Keane

'Gueye slapped Keane around the face'

Gueye is the first player to be sent off in the Premier League for fighting with a team-mate since Ricardo Fuller with Andy Griffin for Stoke in 2008 against West Ham.

Former assistant referee Darren Cann, who oversaw more than 1,000 professional matches, described the clash between Gueye and Keane as "unusual".

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, he added: "Tony Harrington was looking directly at the confrontation. He had an unobstructed view and clearly saw Gueye slap Keane around the face, so in the laws of football that would constitute to violent conduct and a red card is the right decision.

"We know this sort of thing has happened one or two times before, but it is still quite an unusual incident."

Former Everton boss Roberto Martinez, speaking on Sky Sports, said he was "very surprised" at the clash.

"There is a bit of a misunderstanding between them," added the Portugal boss.

"The referee has no choice, the law tells you that is red card."

Idrissa Gana Gueye signed a new one-year contract with Everton in July