A horrific brawl on the pitch in Brazil, referee issues a staggering 23 red cards

The Minas Gerais state derby between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro turned into a horrific brawl as players from both teams engaged in a violent fight, forcing the referee to issue a record 23 red cards in Brazilian football history.

One of the most severe brawls in the history of Brazilian football just occurred during the Minas Gerais state championship final between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro, when the referee had to issue 23 red cards following a chaotic fight on the field.

The match concluded with a 1-0 victory for Cruzeiro, but the focus shifted to shocking violent scenes at the end. The incident began when Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper Everson shoved Cruzeiro midfielder Christian during a tense confrontation.

This action immediately ignited a massive clash. Players from both teams rushed into each other, involving substitutes, coaching staff, and security personnel. Repeated punches and kicks turned the pitch into chaos.

Post-match images showed goalkeeper Everson bleeding from his head after receiving several blows. Veteran star Hulk, former striker for the Brazilian national team was also one of the central figures in the incident. He both received blows and participated in the retaliatory actions during the fight.

A viral video shows Hulk punching midfielder Lucas Romero from behind, while he himself was previously kicked by defender Lucas Villalba. Security forces and military police had to intervene to restore order. Referee Matheus Candancan reportedly even requested police protection due to the tense situation.

The match was interrupted for nearly 10 minutes before resuming. After reviewing the incidents, the referee issued a total of 23 red cards—a record number in Brazilian football history, surpassing the previous record of 22 red cards recorded in 1954.

Speaking after the match, Hulk expressed disappointment: “It’s truly regrettable. I have never witnessed such violence in a football match. We must be responsible for protecting our image and that of the club.”

Meanwhile, Cruzeiro coach Tite also called for respect towards the fans and emphasized that the greatest value of football remains fair-play spirit. According to multiple sources, the South American Football Confederation CONMEBOL has begun reviewing the incident, and severe penalties are expected to be announced soon.