Mass Brawl Leads to 51 Red Cards in Brazilian Youth Football Match

A youth football match in Brazil turned violent, leading to a referee issuing 51 red cards. The incident took place during a game between Uberlandia and Mamore in the Minas Gerais Under-20 Second Division on Sunday.

The brawl started in the 54th minute after a Mamore player, Davi, celebrated his team’s third goal by taunting the opposing bench. This provoked a confrontation that escalated when Uberlandia’s goalkeeping coach, Paulo Sérgio Dias Dos Santos, ran onto the field to confront Davi.

According to reports, the situation worsened as chairs and stretchers were used as weapons. Even ball boys from Uberlandia joined in the fighting, throwing punches and kicks. The referee, Drosghic Modesto, claimed he received death threats from various individuals after the match.

The match was suspended for about 40 minutes before it was ultimately abandoned. A police report was filed regarding the threats made against the referee.

Of the 51 red cards issued, 43 were given to players and 8 to members of the teams’ coaching staff. This incident surpasses the previous record for the most red cards in a single match, which was 36 during an Argentine Primera D game in 2011.

For more details, you can watch the video of the incident here.