Record 53 red cards shown in chaotic Brazilian youth match
The previous record was 36, set in a 2011 fifth-division game in Argentina, and the match was abandoned after about 40 minutes.
Key points
- A world record 53 red cards were shown in a Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final first leg.
- Uberlandia and Mamore players and staff were sent off after a brawl in the second half.
- Military police were called after damage to the Parque do Sabia Stadium.
- Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto abandoned the match.
- Uberlandia have conceded the second leg, so Mamore advance to the final.
Brazilian youth football is under scrutiny after a match in the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship produced a record 53 dismissals, according to BBC Sport. The game was a semi-final first leg between Uberlandia and Mamore. The total surpasses the earlier world best of 36, which came from a fifth-division fixture in Argentina in 2011.
Of those sent off, 43 were players and eight were members of coaching staff. Two Uberlandia board members also received their marching orders, bringing the figure to 53. Three players had already been dismissed before the chaos reached its peak.
How the trouble started
The referee’s account places the start of the disorder in the second half. Mamore’s Davi mocked the opposing bench while celebrating a goal that put his team 3-1 ahead. Uberlandia’s goalkeeping coach, Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos, then sprinted onto the field to challenge him. Scuffles spread quickly across the pitch from that point.
Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto wrote that the situation escalated into a widespread melee in the 54th minute. He said it was no longer possible to display the cards or follow the usual procedure for closing the match. After a stoppage of roughly 40 minutes, he called off the contest, citing chaos and a lack of safety.
Damage at the stadium
According to O Tempo, a Brazilian news outlet, military police were summoned to the Parque do Sabia Stadium because of the harm caused. The damage was extensive enough to draw a police response.
A police document recorded 14 doors broken, showers damaged, windows smashed and furniture wrecked. Seating, tables and chairs were also destroyed. The sources do not give a figure for the total cost of the damage.
What happens next
Uberlandia have decided not to play the second leg of the semi-final. The club called this a fair-play gesture. With only seven Mamore players left available after the dismissals, the decision means Mamore will advance to the final.
Uberlandia said they will now concentrate on the third-place match instead. The club also stated that internal disciplinary action has already been taken against the people involved. It argued that youth sport is first and foremost about personal growth.
Why the record matters
The earlier mark of 36 dates to a fifth-division match between Club Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in Argentina in 2011. The new total is 17 higher than that game.
The Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship is the competition in which this tie was played. Because the match was abandoned, the second leg will not be played, and the final line-up has been decided by Uberlandia’s withdrawal rather than on the pitch.
Frequently asked questions
How many red cards were shown in the match?
The match produced a record total of 53 dismissals: 43 players, eight coaching staff and two board members, according to BBC Sport.
Why was the match abandoned?
Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto abandoned the match after chaos in the second half prevented him from displaying the cards and finishing the match properly.
Which team will play in the final?
Uberlandia chose not to play the second leg, meaning Mamore advance to the final, according to BBC Sport.
Sources
This article was written with the help of AI from reports by the outlets listed above. See our Editorial Policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
