Mass Brawl Leads to Red Cards for 23 Players in Brazilian Football Match

Cruzeiro clinched the Campeonato Mineiro title by defeating Atletico Mineiro 1-0 in a contentious final, which culminated in 23 players being expelled due to a massive brawl.

The decisive goal was netted by Kaio Jorge in Belo Horizonte, marking Cruzeiro's first state title since 2019 under the management of former Brazil national team coach, Tite.

However, the final moments of the match descended into chaos as a violent altercation erupted between players from both teams. The conflict ignited when Atletico's goalkeeper, Everson, pushed Cruzeiro midfielder Christian to the ground, placing his knee on Christian's chest following a collision while pursuing a loose ball.

In response, Christian’s teammates quickly converged on Everson, forcefully pushing him against the goalpost. The situation escalated quickly, drawing in additional players from both sides even as security personnel attempted to intervene.

Although referee Matheus Delgado Candancan did not hand out any red cards during the game itself, Brazilian news outlet Globo later reported that 23 players were sent off post-match due to the severity of the brawl which prevented the referee from issuing penalties on site.

Out of the players sent off, Cruzeiro lost 12, including goalscorer Kaio Jorge, while Atletico Mineiro had 11 players dismissed. Notable names included former Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest defender Renan Lodi and Brazil international Hulk.

After the fracas, Hulk expressed his disappointment, stating, "It’s regrettable. We cannot set that example since it has far-reaching effects globally. We must uphold our image and that of our team."

Both clubs have had difficulties this season in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, with Atletico Mineiro currently in 17th place, while Cruzeiro is positioned at 19th.

A video capturing the brawl can be viewed below.