A wild match in Brazil’s Campeonato Mineiro final between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro ended with a record 23 players sent off after a chaotic brawl broke out According to Softfootball.
The chaos erupted when Atletico Mineiro’s goalkeeper Everson kneed Cruzeiro midfielder Christian, sparking a massive brawl that involved almost every player on the pitch.
According to reports, the referee handed out 12 red cards to Cruzeiro players and 11 to Atletico Mineiro players, including Brazilian legend Hulk. Cruzeiro ultimately won the match 1-0, securing their state championship title.
However, the celebrations were overshadowed by a violent confrontation that erupted in the closing moments of the game.
The altercation began when Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper Everson shoved Cruzeiro midfielder Christian to the ground during a chase for a loose ball and pinned him down with his knee.
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Christian’s teammates quickly reacted, confronting the goalkeeper and pushing him toward the goalpost. The situation escalated rapidly as players from both sides rushed in, turning the scene into a full-scale melee that required security personnel and military police to intervene.
The referee didn’t issue red cards during the match, but officials later gave 23 players the boot after reviewing the brawl, since things got too crazy on the pitch for them to take action.
Cruzeiro had 12 players dismissed, including goalscorer Kaio Jorge, while 11 Atletico Mineiro players were also sent off.
Among those penalised were Atletico captain Hulk and defender Renan Lodi.
Hulk later described the scenes as unfortunate, noting that such incidents reflect poorly on the players and their clubs and can damage the image of the sport.
“It’s regrettable”, the Brazilian said.
“We cannot set that example because it ends up having repercussions all around the world. We have a responsibility to safeguard our image and the image of the institution.”
Ironically, both teams are struggling in the national league, with Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro languishing near the bottom of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A table after four games, despite the intense state championship drama.
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