World record 53 red cards as game descends into chaos
An unwanted world record has been broken at an under-20s football game in Brazil after 53 people were shown red due to an ugly brawl midway through the second half.
In the first leg of the Minas Gerais U20 Championship semi finals, Mamore’s Davi taunted the opposing Uberlandia bench shortly after his team claimed a 3-1 lead. The move did not sit lightly with any member of Uberlandia’s coaching staff.
Mamore and Uberlandia are seen in a brawl. X
Goalkeeping coach Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos was the first to confront Davi on the pitch, sparking a number of people to run in and clash.
Eventually, the brawl became too big to untangle and the referee brought out the red card to send a number of people off the field.
Three players had already been sent off for infringements earlier in the match, and all their teammates eventually joined them as a result of the on-field brawl.
A video of the incident showed players and coaching staff throwing bottles, chairs and even eskies, while the referee signalled the game had been paused.
Military police were called to Parque do Sabia Stadium as a result of the extensive damages the two teams caused to the facilities, as per Brazilian media.
It was cited in a police report that 14 doors as well as windows, benches, tables, and chairs were destroyed. There was also damage to the shower facilities.
A 40-minute pause in the match was followed by a call the game would be abandoned.
In the end, 43 players were left seeing red along with eight coaching staffers. Two members of Uberlandia’s board were also dismissed by the referee.
The total of 53 red cards was a new world record in football, with the previous red card record being 36 during a fifth-division game in Argentina in 2011.
Uberlandia have confirmed the club will forfeit the second leg of the semi-final in a “gesture of fair play” as Mamore only have seven players available to play.
Uberlandi will place their focus on a third-place match, with those shown red due to the brawl set to be hit with “appropriate disciplinary measures” in due course.
