By Martin Graham
Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye became only the third footballer in Premier League history to be dismissed for an action directed at a colleague when he struck Michael Keane during the victory at Manchester United.
The clash happened in the opening stages and resulted in a straight dismissal for the Senegal international.
Although such expulsions remain rare, arguments and physical confrontations between players on the same side have surfaced frequently across different competitions.
Several notable episodes have stood out over the years for their intensity and surprise factor.
High-profile confrontations in the 1990s
Liverpool’s Bruce Grobbelaar once reacted furiously to Steve McManaman after a poor clearance helped Everton score in a 1993 Merseyside derby. McManaman’s response further irritated the goalkeeper, prompting Grobbelaar to grab and push the young midfielder before the two separated.
Two years later, the Blackburn duo David Batty and Graeme le Saux clashed during a difficult Champions League campaign. Both went for the same loose ball on a bitterly cold night in Moscow, resulting in Le Saux breaking his hand after striking his teammate.
Unforgettable scenes of the 2000s
Newcastle’s Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer produced one of the most dramatic internal fights the Premier League witnessed in 2005. With the team already reduced to 10 men and losing heavily to Aston Villa, the pair exchanged punches until Gareth Barry intervened.
Both were dismissed, with Dyer receiving a three-match suspension and Bowyer a seven-game punishment for the altercation.
Just a few years later, Arsenal forwards Emmanuel Adebayor and Nicklas Bendtner argued during a heavy League Cup defeat to Tottenham, leaving Bendtner with a cut on his nose.
Incidents triggered by costly mistakes
Stoke forward Ricardo Fuller infamously slapped captain Andy Griffin in 2008 after a slip allowed West Ham to equalize. Fuller was immediately dismissed, and Stoke eventually lost the match to a late goal.
In another example, Aston Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi and Tyrone Mings exchanged heated words in 2019 after frustrations over defensive work. El Ghazi appeared to move toward Mings aggressively, though the disagreement was resolved at the break.
Modern-era disagreements between team-mates
Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris confronted Son Heung-min in 2020 over a lack of tracking back during a match against Everton. The goalkeeper shoved Son as the teams walked off, but the pair settled their differences, and Spurs held on for victory.
Arsenal defenders Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko also argued after conceding late against Nottingham Forest in 2024. Staff members stepped in, and manager Mikel Arteta later framed the clash as a sign of high standards.
Recent examples of tempers flaring
In early 2024, Sheffield United players Jack Robinson and Vinicius Souza had to be separated during a defeat at Wolves. The confrontation prompted a VAR review for a possible dismissal, though officials decided against any sanction.
Manager Chris Wilder downplayed the confrontation, saying it was typical of competitive environments. He argued that such moments arise at clubs across the country several times per season.
