The final match of the Campeonato Mineiro in Brazil, held between "Cruzeiro" and "Atletico Mineiro," ended in a real scandal when a mass brawl broke out on the field. A record number for Brazilian football was recorded in Belo Horizonte — 23 red cards.
The conflict erupted in the last minutes of the second half when Atletico's goalkeeper Everson collided with Cruzeiro's midfielder Christian. This clash quickly escalated into a serious fight involving not only players but also coaches, substitute players, and even police officers trying to restore order.
Despite a ten-minute delay caused by the chaos on the field, the match continued. "Cruzeiro" won 1-0 thanks to a goal from Caio Jorge scored in the 60th minute.
However, a real storm broke out in the referee's report after the game. Referee Mateus Delgado Candansan recorded 12 red cards for "Cruzeiro" and 11 for "Atletico Mineiro." This event set a new negative record, surpassing the previous record of 22 red cards established in 1954 during a match between "Portuguesa" and "Botafogo." Social media showed footage of Everson suffering a serious head injury and bleeding heavily after being pushed into the goalpost during the conflict.
Atletico Mineiro forward Hulk, who also received a red card, expressed his regret about the incident:
“It’s sad. I have never encountered such brutality in football. We must care about the reputation of our game and clubs, especially in the eyes of children, for whom football is a source of inspiration.”
This incident has sparked widespread resonance in foreign news. Experts are already stating that this final has become one of the most chaotic and scandalous matches in the history of South American football.
