Jamie Carragher and Roberto Martinez have given their verdicts on the red card given to Idrissa Gueye during Everton’s clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford
Jamie Carragher believes referee Tony Harrington could have ‘managed the situation’ leading up to Idrissa Gueye’s bizarre red card, after the Everton star was sent off for slapping his own teammate against Manchester United.
Gueye was shown his marching orders in the 13th minute at Old Trafford following a skirmish with Michael Keane. The Senegal international appeared to be unhappy with centre-back Keane after a miscommunication which led to the midfielder giving the ball away inside his own half.
After words were exchanged, the pair came to head-to-head inside the 18-yard box before Gueye raised his right arm and looked to then slap Keane right on the side of his face. Once Gueye made contact with Keane’s face, Harrington was in no hesitation but to give him a straight red card.
READ MORE: Idrissa Gueye punishment clear after Michael Keane ‘slap’ in bizarre Everton red card vs Man UtdREAD MORE: Everton star sent off for STRIKING own team-mate in angry clash during Man Utd game
Delivering his verdict on the incident, Carragher told Sky Sports: “I just think sometimes can the referee manage a situation a little bit? The actual ruling, as you’ve said, a little bit like when we talk about tackles, excessive force, we’re talking about a slap here.
“Could you just get the two of them together and say ‘eh, behave yourselves’. Sort of manage the situation rather than say ‘that’s the rule book, I am just going off exactly that. When you actually look at the rules it actually gives the referee a bit of an out.”
Ex-Everton manager Roberto Martinez also commented on the incident, saying: “No I was very surprised because you need to be intense. You need to be intense. The reaction here, you’ve got a lot of bodies in the box.
“Obviously it’s a bit of a misunderstanding [Gueye trying to play the ball to Keane and they blame each other]. Clearly it’s a misunderstanding, Gueye is trying to play the ball but it’s that reaction here, that slap, open hand.
“We’ve been talking about it many times. I think the referee has no other choice. When you see it there, the law tells you any aggression above the neck is a red card.”
Speaking just moments after Gueye was sent off, Neville said on co-commentary: “It’s a coming together between him and Michael Keane. It always looks unsavoury when it’s teammate on teammate.
“Idrissa Gueye has gone over to Keane – he hasn’t really reacted. He just pushes him, and then there’s not much in it. There’s not much in it. I mean, I think Jordan Pickford does a very good job [breaking it up] to be fair to him.”
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