An Under-20 match in Brazil descended into chaos after a massive brawl resulted in a staggering 51 red cards.
A football match in Brazil descended into absolute chaos on November 1 during an Under-20 championship semifinal. The fixture took place between Uberlândia and Mamoré at the Parque do Sabiá Stadium in Minas Gerais.
The violence erupted deep into stoppage time when Mamoré led 3-1, sparked by a goal celebration that quickly spiraled out of control. Players, coaching staff, and even ball boys became involved in the unprecedented physical confrontation, according to information published by dexerto.
Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto ultimately abandoned the match, recording a total of 51 red cards to comfortably surpass previous football disciplinary records.
How the massive football brawl started in Minas Gerais
Mamoré player Davi Fernandes Bittencourt made provocative gestures and shouted insults toward the opposing bench after scoring. Uberlândia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sérgio Dias dos Santos then stormed onto the field and pushed Bittencourt.
The physical confrontation quickly escalated into an all-out brawl involving punches and kicks. Footage from the stadium showed chairs and stretchers being thrown during the violent episode on the pitch.
Ball boys join the fight and referee issues 51 red cards
The referee report stated that six ball boys joined the fighting, attacking players and staff with punches, kicks, and thrown objects. Three players had already been sent off earlier, bringing the final total to 51 dismissals.
Out of all the dismissals, 43 were players and eight were members of the coaching staffs. The referee recorded 48 additional dismissals in his official report because the chaos prevented him from showing the cards on the field.
Military police called after visiting locker room vandalism
The trouble did not end on the pitch, as military police were called to the stadium following reports of severe vandalism in the visiting team locker room. Officers discovered approximately 14 damaged doors.
Authorities also found broken sinks, toilets, showers, electrical installations, furniture, and two damaged hot tubs. No arrests were made following the extensive property damage inside the stadium.
Breaking the previous Guinness World Record for red cards
The 51 dismissals comfortably surpass the previous Guinness World Record of 36 red cards, set in 2011 during an Argentine fifth-division match between Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas.
However, Guinness has not yet officially updated its record to recognize the Brazilian incident. Both Uberlândia and Mamoré are scheduled to meet again on November 8, creating major complications for the teams.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the football match in Brazil get 51 red cards?
The match received 51 red cards following a massive brawl that involved players, coaches, and ball boys throwing punches, kicks, chairs, and stretchers.
When and where did the record-breaking red card incident happen?
The incident occurred on November 1 during an Under-20 semifinal between Uberlândia and Mamoré at the Parque do Sabiá Stadium in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
What was the previous red card world record?
The previous Guinness World Record was 36 red cards, set in 2011 during an Argentine fifth-division match between Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas.
