A Brazilian under-20 football match has made history after a referee issued an astonishing 53 red cards following a violent confrontation involving players, coaches and club officials.
The extraordinary incident happened during the first leg of the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final between Uberlandia and Mamore in Brazil.
The match descended into chaos after a second-half confrontation triggered a mass brawl, forcing the referee to abandon the game and dismiss dozens of people involved.
According to reports, 43 players, eight members of the coaching staff and two Uberlandia board members received red cards, bringing the total number of dismissals to 53.
The incident reportedly sets a new record for the highest number of red cards issued in a single football match.
The previous record stood at 36 red cards. That incident occurred during a 2011 fifth-division encounter between Argentine clubs Club Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas.
How the Brazil Match Turned Into a Mass Brawl
Brazilian news outlet O Tempo reported that tensions escalated in the second half after Mamore player Davi celebrated his team’s 3-1 lead by taunting members of the opposing bench.
Uberlandia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos reportedly ran onto the pitch to confront the player. His intervention triggered clashes between members of both teams.
Three players had already received red cards before the larger confrontation broke out.
Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto struggled to control the situation as the fighting spread across the pitch. The match was eventually suspended for approximately 40 minutes before he abandoned it.
In his official report, Modesto said the scale of the confrontation made it impossible to issue the remaining dismissals and complete the match-ending procedures.
He explained that the lack of security and widespread disorder left him with no option but to end the encounter.
Stadium Damage Forces Police Intervention
The violence reportedly caused extensive damage to the Parque do Sabiá Stadium, prompting authorities to call in the military police.
According to the police report, the confrontation left 14 doors broken, shower facilities damaged and several windows shattered. Benches, tables and chairs also suffered extensive damage.
The report highlighted the seriousness of the incident and the destruction that followed the mass confrontation.
The referee’s report further detailed how the disorder prevented him from completing the normal procedures for issuing the remaining red cards.
Uberlandia Withdraws From Second Leg
Following the incident, Uberlandia announced that it would concede the second leg of the semi-final, allowing Mamore to advance to the final.
The decision followed the mass dismissals, which left Mamore with only seven available players for the return fixture.
Uberlandia described its decision as a gesture of fair play, saying it would rather allow its opponents to progress than take advantage of their depleted squad.
The club will now turn its attention to the third-place match.
In a statement, Uberlandia also confirmed that it had taken appropriate internal disciplinary action against those involved in the violence.
The club stressed that sporting development should also promote personal growth and discipline.
The extraordinary Brazilian encounter has attracted attention because of its unprecedented 53 red cards, highlighting how quickly a football match can spiral out of control when tensions escalate.