Everton's attempt to overturn midfielder Idrissa Gueye's red card, received for an extraordinary on-pitch clash with his own teammate, has been rejected by the Football Association, manager David Moyes confirmed. The club was given no explanation for the decision, compounding a situation that saw Gueye sent off just 13 minutes into their remarkable 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday.

The dismissal now sidelines the crucial Senegal international for three key Premier League matches. This suspension creates a significant tactical headache for Everton, whose midfield is already depleted by injuries, and comes just before Gueye is expected to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations in December.

An Unprecedented Dismissal

The incident occurred early in the match when Gueye and defender Michael Keane engaged in a heated argument after a misplaced pass led to a Manchester United chance. The confrontation escalated, resulting in Gueye slapping Keane, an action referee Tony Harrington deemed violent conduct. The decision was subsequently upheld by VAR, which confirmed a "clear strike to the face of Keane."

Despite the shocking start and being reduced to 10 men, Everton rallied to secure a historic win, their first at Old Trafford since 2013, thanks to a superb 29th-minute goal from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. It marked the first time a team had won a Premier League game at the iconic stadium after having a player sent off.

Moyes Laments Lack of Clarity

Manager David Moyes expressed his bewilderment at the FA's opaque process. "We have appealed and our appeal was turned down," Moyes told reporters. "We haven't been given any reason why it was turned down, but we did appeal it - immediately." The manager noted that while passion is welcome, it shouldn't manifest as it did on Monday night.

Internally, the issue was resolved swiftly. Gueye apologised to Keane and the entire squad in the dressing room after the match, an apology that was met with applause from his teammates. He also issued a public apology on social media, taking full responsibility for his actions. The club even shared a light-hearted photo of the two players wearing boxing gloves and hugging in training.

Everton's Midfield Crisis Deepens

Gueye's absence will be keenly felt as he is now set to miss crucial fixtures against Newcastle, Bournemouth, and Nottingham Forest. This comes at a difficult time for the Toffees, with several other midfield players already sidelined with injuries.

• Idrissa Gueye: Suspended for three matches.
• Merlin Röhl: Out until early January after hernia surgery.
• Seamus Coleman: Suffered a hamstring injury against Manchester United.

The suspension, coupled with his upcoming international duty with Senegal for the Africa Cup of Nations, could see Gueye miss up to ten matches for his club. Moyes acknowledged the challenge, stating, "Idrissa's suspension [and forthcoming Afcon participation] leaves us pretty short in that area."

Looking ahead, Everton must now navigate a pivotal run of fixtures without their midfield anchor. The team's resilience, so evident in their victory with ten men, will be severely tested in the coming weeks.