The Mineiro Championship final saw Cruzeiro emerge victorious over local rivals Atletico MG with a 1-0 scoreline, but the match was tragically overshadowed by an extraordinary on-field brawl that led to a staggering 23 players being dismissed. This mass sending-off marks one of the most significant disciplinary incidents in football history, registering as the second-highest number of red cards ever issued in a single professional game.
The heated confrontation erupted in the closing moments of the tense encounter. The flashpoint occurred after Atletico MG goalkeeper Everson attempted to thwart a scoring opportunity from Cruzeiro’s Matheus Pereira. Following a rebound, another Cruzeiro player advanced towards the loose ball, leading to an initial collision near the goal. Goalkeeper Everson quickly rose to his feet and proceeded to physically confront Cruzeiro player Christian, tackling him to the ground and pinning him. This aggressive action instantly escalated the situation, prompting teammates from both sides to rush in, attempting to intervene but ultimately joining a widespread melee.
The altercation quickly spiraled out of control, extending beyond the active players on the field. Substitutes from the benches and even members of both clubs’ coaching staffs became involved in the intense confrontation, exchanging blows amidst the chaos. The situation only began to de-escalate with the urgent intervention of security personnel who were deployed onto the field to separate the warring factions.
Among the notable players embroiled in the incident was former Brazilian international Hulk, who was representing Atletico MG and subsequently received a red card. In total, Atletico MG had 11 members, including Hulk, dismissed from the match. Cruzeiro, on the other hand, faced even more severe disciplinary action, with an astonishing 13 players – encompassing those on the field and on the bench – being shown red cards.
Following the prolonged disruption, which saw the match paused for more than eight minutes, referee Matheus Delgado patiently waited for the situation to calm before blowing his whistle to signal the end of the game. Despite the tumultuous conclusion, Cruzeiro’s 1-0 lead stood, securing them the coveted championship title.
Red cards, a universal symbol of serious disciplinary action in football, were officially introduced into the sport’s rules during the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Their purpose was to penalize severe fouls, violent conduct, or other egregious breaches of sportsmanship on the field. However, the concept of expelling players for serious infringements predates this, with players being removed from matches as early as the 1930 World Cup. Notably, Peru’s Placido Galindo was sent off during that tournament, although the red card itself had not yet been formally implemented.
Football history is replete with remarkable disciplinary records. The fastest red card ever issued belongs to Lee Todd, who, playing for Park Celtic in 2000, was dismissed a mere two seconds after the referee’s whistle for verbally abusing the official. In terms of sheer volume within a single match, the record for the most red cards issued goes to a game between Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in Argentina’s Primera D league on February 27, 2011, where an astounding 36 players, including those on the field and substitutes, were sent off. Furthermore, legendary former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos holds the individual record for the most career red cards, having been dismissed a remarkable 30 times throughout his illustrious career.
