Chaos in Brazil: referee shows 23 red cards after mass brawl
An unusual moment has gone viral online from a football match in Brazil, after the pure chaos happened in the last seconds of the match.
Just before the final whistle of the Minas Gerais state championship final, a massive brawl erupted on the pitch, and the referee later issued an astonishing 23 red cards, sparking strong reactions among football fans around the world.
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A short clip from the match quickly spread across social media, as such a large number of players being sent off in a single game is extremely rare in football.
The match ended with pure chaos
The Campeonato Mineiro final between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro was tense until the final moments. Cruzeiro secured a 1–0 victory, but deep into stoppage time an incident triggered a chain reaction on the pitch.
Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper Everson reacted aggressively after a collision with Cruzeiro midfielder Christian and knocked him to the ground. The moment quickly escalated as players from both teams rushed in. Within seconds, the confrontation spread far beyond the penalty area.
The fight spread across the pitch
Players began pushing, kicking and punching each other, while substitutes and coaching staff also got involved. Security personnel and team officials tried to separate the players, but the chaos lasted for more than a minute.
Although the match finished without immediate dismissals, the referee later reviewed the footage.
Referee later issued 23 red cards
After reviewing the incidents, the referee made a remarkable decision and handed out a total of 23 red cards. According to reports, 12 were shown to Cruzeiro players and 11 to Atletico Mineiro players.
Such a massive disciplinary action is extremely rare and immediately caught the attention of international sports media. Former Brazil international Hulk, who now plays for Atletico Mineiro, also commented on the incident. He said scenes like this are regrettable and harm the image of football around the world.
The video quickly went viral
Footage of the brawl quickly spread across social media and gathered large numbers of views in a short time. Football fans were stunned by the scale of the incident and the unprecedented number of red cards. Many commentators pointed out how quickly tension on the pitch can spiral into chaos.
The footage of the brawl in Brazil:
An incident that shocked the football world
The dramatic ending of the Brazilian final shows how quickly a sporting contest can turn into a global talking point. The footage of the brawl and the record number of red cards has become one of the most talked-about football stories in recent days.
