A shambolic final in the Campeonato Mineiro turned violent on Sunday as a massive brawl between players from Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro resulted in 23 red cards, setting a new record in Brazilian football.
Cruzeiro managed to secure a 1–0 victory thanks to a goal from Kaio Jorge, earning the club its first state championship title since 2019. But the celebrations were entirely overshadowed by violence on the pitch.
The trouble started deep into stoppage time at 90+6 minutes, when Cruzeiro midfielder Christian collided with Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper Everson near the penalty area. Everson reacted angrily by hitting the midfielder. And players from both teams rushed in within seconds, turning a tense moment into a full-blown melee.
The brawl quickly involved on-field players, substitutes, and coaching staff, with punches and kicks exchanged. The situation escalated to the point where military police had to intervene to restore order.
😳🇧🇷 There was 23 RED CARDS shown in the Cruzeiro vs Atletico Mineiro match 🔴‼️ pic.twitter.com/bJSQXxxlyj
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) March 9, 2026
Record 23 players sent off
Referee Matheus Delgado Candançan chose to finalize the decisions after the match, issuing 23 red cards in total: 12 for Cruzeiro and 11 for Atlético Mineiro players.
Most of the players were sent off for violent conduct and taking part in the mass fight.
Several high-profile players were caught up in the chaos, including Hulk, Everson, Renan Lodi, and Alan Franco for Atlético Mineiro, and Cássio, Gerson, Lucas Romero, and Kaio Jorge (who had scored the winning goal) for Cruzeiro.
The 23 red cards set a new record in Brazilian football, surpassing the previous high of 22 in a 1954 match between Portuguesa and Botafogo.
Brazilian football authorities are expected to review the incident carefully, and additional suspensions or sanctions for the players involved are likely.
The match will long be remembered for the chaos that made it one of the most surreal games in recent Brazilian and world football history.
