Arecord 51 red cards were issued in an Under-20 match in Brazil before the 60-minute mark had even passed, resulting in the game’s abandonment.
The incident happened at the Estadio Parque do Sabia in Minas Gerais during the second half of an Under-20s Campeonato Mineiro (Second Division) semi-final between local rivals Mamore and host Uberlandia. After Mamore scored to take a 3-1 lead in the 54th minute of the second half, tensions erupted. While altercations on the field are common in sports, the events in Brazil were unprecedented in the world of football. It took over 40 minutes to resolve the full-scale conflict that swiftly developed from the altercation.
Chaotic Scenes From Football Field
The official referee’s report states that striker Davi raced toward the opponent bench to taunt the Uberlandia staff and reserves immediately following Mamore’s third goal, setting off the chaotic scene. The full-fledged altercation began when Uberlandia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos stormed onto the field to confront him after becoming enraged by the outrageous celebration.
The referee and other officials were unable to resolve the situation since it had escalated to the point where board members, technical personnel, and substitutes had entered the field.
Match Referee On The Chaos
In his match report, referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto disclosed that six ball boys participated in the brawl. The investigation claims that the ball boys struck Mamore employees with chairs, stretchers, and other objects. To maintain order and regulate the situation, local military police were dispatched to the scene.
Additionally, it has been claimed that Mamore team members vandalized the home team’s dressing area when Uberlandia officials damaged their equipment.
Three players had already been sent off prior to the big brawl. According to the referee’s report, 48 more players, officials, and other participants received red cards for their involvement in the on-field violence.
According to the referee’s report, 43 players, 8 support personnel, and 2 board members received red cards. The incident also shattered the previous Guinness World Record for the most send-offs in a single football game. The previous record, set in 2011 during a fifth-tier match between Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in Argentina, was 36 red cards.