PGMO chief Howard Webb felt Idrissa Gueye left referee Tony Harrington with "very little choice" but to send him off for slapping team-mate Michael Keane during Everton's win at Man Utd earlier this season.Gueye saw red when the two came together following a heated discussion at the end of a Man Utd attack, with Gueye clearly raising his hand to his Toffees colleague. Everton went on to win the game 1-0 despite the early dismissal, and boss David Moyes said after the game he felt Harrington rushed his decision. He later revealed a club appeal against the decision had been turned down but said he had been given "no reason" by the FA. Replaying the audio of the incident and subsequent VAR review on the latest edition of Mic'd Up on Sky Sports revealed VAR official Paul Howard had viewed the contact as a "clear strike to the face" and confirmed Harrington's on-field decision.The Whistle Blower: The unintended consequences of reducing time wastingLive Premier League table | Watch PL highlights for freeGot Sky? Watch PL games LIVE on your phone📱No Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Speaking on Match Officials Mic'd Up, PGMOL chief Howard Webb explains why the laws of the game meant that red-carding Idrissa Gueye for slapping teammate Michael Keane was the only available option to referee Tony Harrington WHAT THE OFFICIALS SAID: Referee: "Red card on-field for a slap by [Gueye]." VAR: "Checking the on-field decision of red card for [Gueye]… There's an action by [Gueye]. I also want to check the action of Michael Keane here before that, please." Also See: Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract Live Premier League table Watch FREE (👉 Read also: FREE STREAM: The Transfer Show) Premier League highlights Assistant VAR: "Okay yeah, I've seen a slap."VAR: "Confirming the on-field decision of red card. [Gueye] clear strike to the face of Michael Keane."WEBB'S VERDICT:Idrissa Gueye was sent off for violent conduct, which comes under Law 12. According to Law 12, a player must be sent off if they use excessive force or brutality against an opponent, a teammate, a team official or a match official. So, it goes on to include teammates and it's unusual, we've not seen many of these situations happen before.But when the referee in this case sees Gueye clearly slap Keane, his teammate, across the face, he's got very little choice but to act as per the Laws of the Game.I'm sure the referee in this situation felt that he was put in a pretty difficult position - we want referees to use their personality - we used to always say Law 18 was common sense, the next law after the first 17, but we've also got to apply the Laws as well.When it's so clear that an act of violent conduct has happened, to the face, and it's stipulated in the Laws of the Game that it has to be a red card, I don't think you can do anything other than send the player off and the referee, in this case Tony Harrington...
Mic'd Up: Ref had 'very little choice' after Gueye slap on Keane
