Record 53 Red Cards Handed Out After Under‑20 Brawl in Brazil

More than 50 red cards were issued after a mass brawl erupted during an under‑20 semifinal in Brazil.

What Happened

The match was the first leg of the Minas Gerais Under‑20 Championship semi‑final between Uberlândia and Mamoré. Mamoré took a 3‑1 lead and a player from their side taunted the Uberlândia bench, sparking a brawl. Forty players and eight staff members were dismissed. Earlier three players had already received red cards, and two Uberlândia board members were later shown red cards, bringing the total to 53.

Reaction

Damage to Estádio Parque do Sabiá prompted the military police to intervene, according to O Tempo. Uberlândia issued a statement saying it would withdraw from the competition as a "gesture of fair play," allowing Mamoré to advance to the final.

Context

The 53 red cards break the previous record of 36 set in a 2011 Argentine fifth‑division match between Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas. Such a high number of dismissals is rare in football and highlights how quickly on‑field tensions can spiral into chaos.