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A football match in Brazil witnessed unprecedented chaos, with a record 53 red cards issued following a massive brawl between players and officials during an Under-20 Championship semi-final.
The incident occurred during the first leg of the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final between Uberlandia and Mamore.
According to the referee’s official report, tensions first boiled over early in the second half when an Uberlandia player was sent off. Several officials from the club then entered the pitch, forcing the match to be suspended for nearly 40 minutes.
Play eventually resumed, but another major confrontation erupted after Mamore forward Davi scored in the ninth minute of stoppage time to put his side 3-1 ahead.
According to Brazilian media reports, Davi made provocative remarks towards Uberlandia players while celebrating the goal, triggering a mass brawl involving players and staff from both teams.
In his report, referee Fernando Patrick Drosgich Modesto said he was forced to abandon the match immediately as the situation had spiralled out of control and adequate security could no longer be ensured.
A total of 53 people were sent off, including 43 players, eight members of the coaching staff and two officials from Uberlandia’s management board.
A formal complaint was also lodged with police over alleged threats against the referee and vandalism of the dressing room.
Uberlandia later decided not to play the second leg after being left without enough eligible players. The club conceded a walkover, allowing Mamore to advance directly to the tournament final following its first-leg victory.
The incident has reportedly broken the previous record for the most red cards in a football match.
The Guinness World Record was previously held by an Argentine fifth-division match between Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in February 2011, when 36 red cards were issued.