Brazilian Under-20 Match Sets Record with 53 Red Cards After Mass Brawl
A football match in Brazil has made international headlines after a mass brawl resulted in 53 red cards during a Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final between Uberlândia and Mamoré.
The incident occurred on November 1, when Mamoré defeated Uberlândia 3–1. A confrontation erupted after Mamoré scored its third goal, involving players, coaching staff, and club officials.
According to Brazilian media outlet CNN Brasil, 43 players, eight coaching staff members and two club officials were sent off. Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto also reported threats and violence during the incident.
The number surpasses the previous reported record of 36 red cards in a football match in Argentina in 2011.
Following the incident, Uberlândia withdrew from the second leg of the semi-final, citing fair play because Mamoré had only seven eligible players available. The Minas Gerais Football Federation confirmed Mamoré’s qualification for the final.
The disciplinary incidents will also be examined by the state’s sports justice authorities.
