A chaotic Campeonato Mineiro final in Brazil ended in extraordinary scenes on Sunday night after 23 players were sent off following a mass brawl at the end of Cruzeiro’s 1-0 victory over Atlético Mineiro in Belo Horizonte. The dismissals were confirmed in referee Matheus Delgado Candançan’s official report after the match.
According to multiple reports in Brazil, the total of 23 red cards is a national record, surpassing the previous mark of 22 dismissals from a 1954 match between Portuguesa and Botafogo.
The violence broke out in the closing moments after Atletico goalkeeper Everson pushed Cruzeiro midfielder Christian to the ground following a loose ball incident. Christian’s teammates reacted immediately, triggering a wider melee that quickly drew in players from both sides as security staff tried to restore order.
🇧🇷 Meanwhile in Brazil, it was a FULL-ON BRAWL between Gremio and Atletico Mineiro last night. 😳🥊
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) March 9, 2026
These are absolutely CRAZY SCENES. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/AHTLDfCaNu
Cruzeiro eventually held on for a 1-0 win, but the result was completely overshadowed by the ugly scenes that followed. Reuters reported that 12 Cruzeiro players and 11 Atletico Mineiro players were retrospectively sent off, with Everson and Christian both receiving direct red cards for their initial confrontation. Others were dismissed for violent conduct, including punches and kicks during the brawl.
Atletico forward Hulk described the violence as regrettable and said he had never seen anything like it in a football match. He stressed that players have a responsibility to protect both their own image and that of their clubs, warning that such incidents damage the reputation of the game worldwide.
Cruzeiro coach Tite thanked the supporters after the victory, while also acknowledging the importance of respect, dignity and honesty in the game.
The match will now be remembered less for Cruzeiro’s triumph and more for one of the most chaotic and unprecedented disciplinary episodes ever seen in Brazilian football
