Editor’s note: This article was first published on Nov. 7, 2022, and has been updated
Cruzeiro beat local rivals Atlético-MG by a single goal to win the 2026 Campeonato Mineiro at the weekend, but the climax of the regional final saw tensions boil over between the two sides as the game descended into utter chaos.
A total of 23 red cards were issued in the final few minutes after a mass brawl was sparked by an altercation between Atlético goalkeeper Éverson and Cruzeiro midfielder Christian, who tussled on the ground after colliding.
The benches then emptied as players, substitutes and members of coaching staff clashed angrily on the field; pushing, shoving and even throwing punches at one another. Former Brazil international Hulk was spotted amongst the rabble, initially attempting to calm things down before getting swept up in the melee himself.
The 39-year-old veteran cut a contrite figure in the aftermath, posting an apologetic statement on Instagram in which he vowed to learn from the error of his ways.
“We need to acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them,” he wrote. “What happened yesterday does not represent the values that soccer should embody. Rivalry is part of the sport, but respect must always prevail over any emotion.”
The two teams are now awaiting the imminent disciplinary charges that would accompany any 23-red card flurry, but the 2026 Campeonato Mineiro final still falls some way short of the most dismissals ever witnessed in professional football.
Portugal vs. Netherlands, 2006 World Cup — 4 red cards
The infamous “Battle of Nuremberg” saw Russian referee Valentin Ivanov administer four red cards and 16 yellows in the round of 16, which is still the most cards shown in any single FIFA tournament game.
Both teams had two players sent off from the final minute of the first half onwards as Portugal ground out a grizzly 1-0 victory to reach the quarterfinals.
Borussia Dortmund vs. Dynamo Dresden, 1993 — 5 red cards
The Bundesliga record for most red cards in a single game is the five flashed in the volatile meeting between Dortmund and Dresden. Matthias Sammer was the first to go after picking up a second booking just 29 minutes in. The nine men of Dortmund then eventually ended up beating the eight men of Dresden 4-0 in a sparsely populated encounter.
Paris Saint-Germain vs. Marseille, 2020 — 5 red cards
The French league record for most red cards in one game stands at the five shared out between players of PSG and Marseille during a spiky Le Classique derby in 2020, which also saw 14 yellow cards doled out by referee Jerome Brisard. All five dismissals came in the final minute when an altercation involving Alvaro Gonzalez and Neymar sparked a mass brawl between the sides.
Chesterfield vs. Plymouth Argyle / Bristol Rovers vs. Wigan Athletic, 1997 — 5 red cards
The record for most dismissals in an English league game is jointly held by four teams after Division Two saw two separate matches culminate in five reds apiece in the same calendar year. Firstly, Chesterfield and Plymouth broke new ground when five players were sent off in February’s “The Battle of Saltergate” which ended in a mass brawl after an incident that left Argyle goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar lying motionless on the ground as players and fans fought around him.
Just 10 months later, Bristol Rovers and Wigan repeated the feat when five players were expelled at Springfield Park, including four reds in the first half.
Barcelona vs. Espanyol, 2003 — 6 red cards
Barcelona hold many records when it comes to LaLiga but one of their less illustrious achievements is the six reds shown in a fractious derby against Espanyol in 2003 — still the most red cards flashed in any single Spanish top-flight match.
The Catalan clash saw two players shown straight reds for violent play, while a further four were expelled for second yellows. Barca ultimately won 3-1 despite having Ricardo Quaresma, Rafael Marquez and Phillip Cocu removed from the pitch prematurely.
Racing Club vs. Boca Juniors, 2022 — 10 red cards
The annual match to decide the champions of Argentine football descended into violence when the 2022 Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional culminated in a mass administering of red cards.
With the score level at 1-1 in the final few minutes of extra time, Racing midfielder Carlos Alcaraz headed home a dramatic late winner and chose to celebrate directly in front of the Boca fans. As you might imagine, this sent the Boca fans and players wild which sparked an unsavoury brawl at the Estadio Unico.
Despite being moments from sounding the final whistle, referee Facundo Tello was forced to dole out 7 red cards (including one for Alcaraz) to add to the three that he’d already had to flash earlier in extra time, bringing his grand tally up to 10.
Boca Juniors vs. Sporting Cristal, 1971 — 19 red cards
Gremio and Internacional’s ill-disciplined efforts in 2018 pale in comparison to the Copa Libertadores all-time single-game record for red cards, which was set in the early 1970s when a ludicrously tempestuous duel between Boca of Argentina and Cristal of Peru ended with 19 players being given their marching orders.
Recreativo Linense vs. Saladillo de Algeciras, 2009 — 19 red cards
Similar scenes of mass disorder engulfed the Spanish regional league tie between Recreativo and Saladillo in 2009 which saw 19 players sent off amid a huge brawl that eventually meant the game was abandoned entirely.
The violence was sparked by the referee’s decision to send off a Recreativo player which led to both teams piling in on each other. The official then chose to send off a further nine players from each team after retreating to the safety of his dressing room.
Sportivo Ameliano vs. General Caballero, 1993 — 20 red cards
Paraguayan opposition Sportivo and General Caballero managed to reach 20 reds when they met in the league in 1993. According to reports, a controversial double sending-off proved to be the catalyst for a large scrap that lasted for over 10 minutes. By the end of the fight, the referee had abandoned the game after red-carding every single player and staff member involved.
Atletico Claypole vs. Victoriano Arenas, 2011 — 36 red cards
The Guinness World Record for the highest number of people reported to be sent off during a single football match stands at 36, which you may notice is enough to include every single member of both teams’ matchday squad and then some.
The dreadful event came in the Argentine Primera D game between Club Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas which quickly saw referee Damian Rubino overwhelmed by the lack of discipline on display as the second half dissolved from a smattering of nasty tackles into complete and utter anarchy.
Both dugouts emptied as players, coaches, medics and even fans came to blows on the pitch, leaving Rubino with little choice but to red card absolutely everybody involved in the horrendous fighting before officially abandoning the match.
