By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Brazilian football witnessed one of its most chaotic moments on Sunday as the fierce derby between Cruzeiro Esporte Clube and Clube Atlético Mineiro descended into a massive on-field brawl that resulted in a record 23 red cards, the highest number ever issued in a match in the country’s history.
The incident occurred during the Campeonato Mineiro final at Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte, where Cruzeiro secured a 1–0 victory thanks to a second-half goal from Kaio Jorge. However, the result was overshadowed by the violent scenes that erupted near the end of the match.
The confrontation began after a heated clash between Cruzeiro midfielder Christian and Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper Everson. Reports indicate that the goalkeeper pushed Christian and placed a knee on his chest, triggering an immediate reaction from players on both sides and sparking a full-scale melee.
Within seconds, substitutes and staff members from both teams rushed onto the pitch as punches and kicks were exchanged across the field. Security personnel and military police were eventually required to restore order.
Referee Matheus Candançan initially struggled to control the chaos and did not issue red cards during the incident. However, after reviewing the events in the official match report, 23 players were retrospectively sent off — 11 from Cruzeiro and 10 from Atlético Mineiro, along with the two central protagonists of the altercation.
The unprecedented figure surpasses the previous Brazilian record of 22 red cards, set in a match between Associação Portuguesa de Desportos and Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas in 1954.
During the violence, Atlético goalkeeper Everson was reportedly left bleeding after sustaining a head injury amid the chaos, highlighting the severity of the confrontation.
Brazilian football authorities are now expected to review the incident, with potential disciplinary actions likely to follow for players involved in what has already been described as one of the most infamous episodes in the country’s football history.