A world record 53 red cards were shown during an under-20 football match in Brazil after a mass brawl broke out between players and officials. The incident took place during the first leg of the state championship semi-final between Uberlandia and Mamore in the state of Minas Gerais on Sunday.
The trouble reportedly began early in the second half when several Uberlandia officials entered the pitch following the sending-off of one of their players. A total of 43 players and eight members of the coaching staff were sent off, along with two Uberlandia board members, taking the number of red cards shown to 53.
The match was halted for 40 minutes before play resumed. Mamore eventually scored in the ninth minute of stoppage time to take a 3-1 lead. Brazilian media reports said Mamore player Davi taunted Uberlandia players during his goal celebrations, triggering the mass brawl that resulted in the record number of red cards.
“In the 54th minute of the second half, a generalised brawl broke out, making it impossible to show the red cards and to carry out the match-closing protocol,” referee Drosghic Modesto wrote in his match report as quoted by Reuters. “Therefore, owing to all the turmoil and the lack of security, I declared the match ended.”
Modesto also reported that a police complaint was filed over threats made against him. Mamore's dressing room was also vandalised after the match. The previous record for the most red cards shown in a football match was 36, during a fifth-division game between Argentine sides Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in February 2011.
On Wednesday, Uberlandia announced that it would forfeit the second leg of the semifinal in what it described as a “gesture of fair play”. The club said Mamore did not have enough eligible players to field a team for the match. The decision handed Mamore a place in the tournament final.
“The club has also not remained silent: The appropriate disciplinary measures regarding those involved have already been taken internally because athletic development is, above all, a matter of personal development,” Uberlandia said.
(With inputs from Reuters)