A Brazilian Under-20 championship semifinal ended in a mass brawl and 51 red cards after a confrontation broke out late in the match between Uberlândia and Mamoré at Parque do Sabiá Stadium in Minas Gerais on November 1. The referee abandoned the game as the violence spread across the pitch.
Mamoré were leading 3-1 deep into stoppage time when a goal celebration sparked the dispute. Brazilian outlet O Tempo reported that Mamoré player Davi Fernandes Bittencourt made provocative gestures and shouted toward the opposing bench. Uberlândia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sérgio Dias dos Santos then reportedly entered the field and pushed him, setting off the fight.
Players and coaching staff exchanged punches and kicks. Footage showed chairs and stretchers being thrown, while the referee’s report said six ball boys also joined in, attacking players and staff with punches, kicks and objects.
Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto had already sent off three players before the brawl. He recorded 48 further dismissals in his report, saying the chaos prevented him from showing the cards on the field. The final tally was 51: 43 players and eight members of the coaching staffs.
Military police were called after reports of vandalism in the visiting team’s locker room. Officers found about 14 damaged doors, along with broken sinks, toilets, showers, electrical installations and furniture. Two hot tubs were also reportedly damaged. No arrests were made.
The match had been suspended for around 40 minutes earlier in the second half after Uberlândia officials confronted the referee over another dismissal. The referee later reported receiving threats.
The 51 dismissals exceed the Guinness World Record of 36, set during an Argentine fifth-division match in 2011. Guinness has not officially updated its record to recognize the Brazilian match. Uberlândia and Mamoré are scheduled to meet again on November 8, though the number of dismissals could complicate matters for both sides.
Sources: Dexerto.