Headline: Brazil’s Under-20 Championship Sets New Record with 51 Red Cards
A world record of 51 red cards was issued during a tumultuous under-20s football match in Brazil. The semi-final first leg of the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship, which pitted Uberlandia against Mamore, was overshadowed by chaos that led to the expulsion of 43 players alongside eight coaching staff members.
The previous record for red cards, set during a 2011 fifth-division match between Club Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in Argentina, stood at 36. Reports from Brazilian news outlet O Tempo indicated that military police were summoned due to significant damage incurred at the Parque do Sabia Stadium.
The turmoil began in the second half when Mamore’s Davi celebrated his team going 3-1 ahead by taunting the Uberlandia bench. This provocation prompted Uberlandia’s goalkeeping coach, Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos, to rush onto the field for a confrontation, igniting further clashes that resulted in additional dismissals. Notably, three players had already received red cards earlier in the match.
The police report detailed damage including 14 broken doors, destroyed shower facilities, shattered windows, and ruined benches, tables, and chairs. The match saw a lengthy pause of about 40 minutes before referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto ultimately abandoned it.
In response to the situation, Uberlandia confirmed that they would concede the second leg of the semi-final. They noted that Mamore could only field seven players due to the mass expulsions. Uberlandia characterized their decision as a “gesture of fair play,” allowing Mamore to advance to the final while they would compete in the third-place match.
