Editor’s note: This article was first published on November 7, 2022 and has been updated
Cruzeiro beat local rivals Atletico MG- by a single goal to win the 2026 Campeonato Mineiro at the weekend, but tensions rose between the two sides at the climax of the regional final. The game plunged into complete chaos.
A total of 23 red cards were issued in the final few minutes after a massive brawl broke out between Atlético goalkeeper Iverson and Cruzeiro midfielder Christian, who fell to the ground after the collision.
This was followed by angry clashes on the field between players, substitute players and members of the coaching staff, resulting in the benches being emptied; There is pushing, shoving and even punches being thrown at each other. East brazil The International Hulk was seen among the crowd, initially attempting to calm things down before getting caught up in the melee himself.
The 39-year-old veteran then posted an apologetic statement on Instagram, in which he vowed to learn from the error of his ways.
“We need to accept our mistakes and learn from them,” he wrote. “What happened yesterday does not represent the values that should be embodied in football. Rivalries are part of the game, but respect should always trump any sentiment.”
Both teams now await the impending disciplinary charges that would accompany any 23-red card flurry, but the 2026 Campeonato Mineiro final is still just short of the most dismissals ever seen in professional football.
portugal versus Netherlands2006 World Cup–4 red cards
In the infamous “Battle of Nuremberg”, Russian referee Valentin Ivanov gave four red cards and 16 yellow cards in the round of 16, which is still the most cards shown in any FIFA tournament game.
Two players each from both the teams were sent off from the last minute of the first half, due to which Portugal entered the quarter-finals with a crushing defeat of 1-0.
borussia dortmund vs. Dynamo Dresden, 1993–5 red cards
Bundesliga The record for most red cards in a single game is five red cards shown in the volatile meeting between Dortmund and Dresden. Matthias Sammer was the first to go off after picking up a second booking in just 29 minutes. Dortmund’s nine men ultimately defeated Dresden’s eight 4–0 in a sparsely populated match.
Paris Saint Germain versus marseille2020 — 5 red cards
The French league record for most red cards in a game is five red cards distributed during a thorny game between players of PSG and Marseille. le classic derby in 2020, which also saw 14 yellow cards by referee Jérôme Brisard. All five dismissals occurred in the last minute after an altercation between Álvaro González and neymar A large-scale dispute broke out between the parties.
Chesterfield vs Plymouth Argyle / Bristol Rovers vs Wigan Athletic, 1997 – 5 red cards
The record for most players dismissed in an English league game is jointly held by four teams, as two different matches in the same calendar year in Division Two ended in five raids. First, Chesterfield and Plymouth broke new ground when five players were sent off in February’s “The Battle of Saltergate”, which ended in massive controversy 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 versus espanyol2003–6 red cards
Barcelona holds many records when it comes to LaLiga But one of his less spectacular achievements is the six reds shown in a derby derby against Espanyol in 2003 – still the most red cards shown in a single Spanish top-flight match.
The Catalan clash saw two players shown a straight red for violent play, while another four were expelled for a second yellow. Barça eventually won 3–1, despite Ricardo Quaresma, Rafael Márquez and Filipe Cocu being removed from the pitch prematurely.
Racing Club vs. Boca Juniors, 2022 — 10 red cards
The annual match that decides Argentine football’s champion descended into violence when the 2022 Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional concluded with the administration of mass red cards.
With the score tied at 1–1 in the last few minutes of extra time, Racing midfielder Carlos Alcaraz headed home a dramatic late winner and decided to celebrate straight in front of the Boca fans. As you can imagine, this enraged Boca fans and players, sparking an unpleasant brawl at the Estadio Unico.
Despite it being moments before the final whistle, referee Facundo Tello was forced to give 7 red cards (including one for Alcaraz), to add to the three he had already flashed in extra time, bringing his total to 10.
Boca Juniors vs. Sporting Cristal, 1971 – 19 red cards
Grêmio and Internacional’s ill-disciplined efforts in 2018 pale in comparison to the Copa Libertadores’ all-time single-game record for red cards, set in the early 1970s when a strangely stormy duel between Argentina’s Boca and Peru’s Cristal ended with 19 players being given their marching orders.
Recreativo Linense vs. Saladillo de Algeciras, 2009 – 19 red cards
A similar scene of mass disorder marred the Spanish regional league tie between Recreativo and Saladillo in 2009, with 19 players being sent off amid huge controversy that meant the game was abandoned entirely.
The referee’s decision to send off a Recreativo player sparked violence, leading to both teams pouncing on each other. The official then decided to send nine more players from each team after they retreated to the safety of their dressing rooms.
Sportivo Ameliano vs. General Caballero, 1993 – 20 red cards
In 1993 he managed to reach 20 raids when Paraguayan rivals Sportivo and General Caballero met in the league. According to reports, a controversial double sending-off proved to be the catalyst for a major scrap that lasted for more than 10 minutes. By the end of the fight, the referee had abandoned the game after giving red cards to every player and staff member involved.
Atlético Claypool vs. Victoriano Arenas, 2011 – 36 red cards
Guinness World Record The highest number of people sent off during a single football match is 36, which as you can see is enough to include every member of both teams’ match day squads and then some.
The horrific incident occurred in an Argentine Primera de game between Club Atlético Claypool and Victoriano Arenas, with referee Damien Rubino being overwhelmed by the lack of discipline on display as the second half descended into complete chaos fueled by bad tackles.
Both dugouts emptied as players, coaches, physicians and even fans began brawling on the field, leaving Rubino no choice but to show red cards to everyone involved in the horrific fight before officially leaving the match.
