Record 51 red cards in abandoned Brazilian under-20 semi-final
Uberlandia and Mamore's Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final first leg was abandoned after a mass brawl led to a world-record 51 red cards, and Uberlandia later conceded the second leg.
A Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final first leg between Uberlandia and Mamore in Brazil was abandoned after a mass brawl produced a world-record 51 red cards, according to the referee's report. Forty-three players and eight members of coaching staff were dismissed, surpassing the previous record of 36 in a 2011 Argentine fifth-division match between Club Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas.
The trouble began in the second half when Mamore's Davi celebrated his side's third goal by taunting the Uberlandia bench. Uberlandia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos ran onto the pitch to confront him, triggering clashes and the wave of dismissals. Three players had already been sent off earlier in the match.
Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto paused the game for about 40 minutes before abandoning it. Brazilian outlet O Tempo reported that military police were called over extensive damage at the Parque do Sabia Stadium; the police report cited 14 broken doors, damaged showers, broken windows and destroyed benches, tables and chairs.
Uberlandia later confirmed they had conceded the second leg because Mamore had only seven players available following the red cards. The club called the decision a "gesture of fair play", saying Mamore will progress to the final while Uberlandia focus on the third-place match.
The episode drew attention beyond the competition because of the unprecedented scale of the dismissals. The article supplied does not include further comment from Mamore, the referee or the competition organisers.
Image: YouTube/Bola e Batom / BBC Sport
