What was supposed to be a fiery championship match in Brazil ended up looking more like a full-blown wrestling match. During the Mineiro final, Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro briefly forgot about the ball… and focused on fighting.
The chaos got so big that the referee couldn’t even show all the red cards during the moment. By the time everything was sorted out, the match had produced a jaw-dropping 23 ejections and a record nobody really wanted.
Total Chaos in Brazil: 23 Red Cards After Massive On-Field Brawl
With Cruzeiro leading 1–0 thanks to a goal by Kaio Jorge, tensions exploded after a heated clash between Cruzeiro midfielder Christian and Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper Everson during a loose ball challenge.
Within seconds, players from both teams rushed in and the situation spiraled into a full-field brawl with punches, kicks, and plenty of pushing. After reviewing the madness, referee Matheus Candaçan handed out 23 red cards, setting a historic Brazilian soccer record.
