Record 51 red cards issued after mass brawl in Brazilian youth match

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 5 Nov, 05:41 · Archive

A world record 51 red cards were shown during an under-20 championship match between Uberlandia and Mamore in the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship in Brazil. The previous record was 36, set during an Argentine fifth-division match between Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in 2011.

According to multiple reports, the brawl broke out in the second half after a Mamore player taunted the opposition bench when his side went 3-1 up. Uberlandia's goalkeeping coach Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos ran onto the pitch to confront him, sparking widespread clashes. Three players had already been sent off earlier in the match. In total, 43 players and eight members of coaching staff received red cards.

The Daily Mail Sport reports that six ball boys were also involved in the chaos, throwing punches, kicks and objects at players and coaching staff. Weapons including stretchers and chairs were said to have been used. The disorder lasted over half an hour to resolve, and the match was paused for approximately 40 minutes before being abandoned by referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto.

Military police were called to the stadium because of extensive damage to the Parque do Sabia Stadium. Brazilian news outlet O Tempo reported 14 broken doors, damaged shower facilities, broken windows and destroyed benches, tables and chairs.

Uberlandia confirmed they conceded the second leg of the semi-final because Mamore had only seven players available following the dismissals. Uberlandia described their decision as a 'gesture of fair play', allowing Mamore to progress to the final while Uberlandia focused on the third-place match. The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed this as the most dismissals in a single game.

How it is being reported

• Guinness World Record broken as 53 red cards shown in Brazil under-20 matchMass brawl at Uberlandia vs Mamore results in 43 cards for players, eight for coaching staff and two for board members.Al Jazeera · 5 Nov, 07:20
• World record 53 red cards shown in Brazil football matchReferees have red-carded 53 players and staff after a massive brawl in an under-20s football match in Brazil.Al Jazeera · 5 Nov, 03:48
• Brazil soccer match sets world record for most red cards after mass brawlAn under-20s soccer match in Brazil is making headlines for all the wrong reasons, with more than 50 red cards handed out after a mass brawl.ABC News Australia · 5 Nov, 01:03
• World record 51 red cards shown in Brazilian youth gameA world record of 43 players and eight members of staff were sent off during an under-20 championship match between Uberlandia and Mamore in Brazil.BBC Sport · 4 Nov, 23:22
• The dirtiest football match EVER: Referee issues record 51 RED CARDS after mass brawl in Under-20 game in Brazil - and even the ball boys got involved!The Guinness Book of World Records have confirmed that the game saw the most dismissals, with 43 players and eight members of coaching staff given their marching orders.Daily Mail Sport · 4 Nov, 19:29

In this story: Uberlandia · Mamore · Brazil · Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto · Atletico Claypole · Victoriano Arenas

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log