Drama as 23 Players sees red card in Brazil football final (Video)

A dramatic end to the Campeonato Mineiro final between Cruzeiro Esporte Clube and Clube Atlético Mineiro descended into chaos after a mass brawl broke out, leading to 23 players being sent off after the match.

Cruzeiro secured the Minas Gerais state championship with a 1–0 victory in Belo Horizonte, thanks to a decisive goal from Kaio Jorge. The win ended Cruzeiro’s six-year wait for the title, their first since 2019.

However, celebrations were overshadowed by a violent confrontation that erupted in the closing moments of the game.

The clash reportedly began when Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper Everson shoved Cruzeiro midfielder Christian to the ground during a chase for a loose ball and pinned him down with his knee.

Christian’s teammates immediately reacted, confronting the goalkeeper and pushing him toward the goalpost. The situation quickly escalated as players from both sides rushed in, turning the incident into a full-scale melee that required security personnel and military police to intervene.

Although referee Matheus Delgado Candancan did not issue red cards during the match, officials later reviewed the incident and handed out 23 dismissals retrospectively.

Cruzeiro had 12 players sent off, including goalscorer Kaio Jorge, while 11 Atletico Mineiro players were also dismissed. Among those penalised were Atletico captain Hulk and defender Renan Lodi.

Reacting to the incident, Hulk described the scenes as unfortunate and said such behaviour damages the image of the sport.

“It’s regrettable. We cannot set that example because it ends up having repercussions all around the world,” he said.

Despite the intense rivalry, both clubs have struggled in the Brazilian Serie A this season, with Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro currently hovering near the relegation zone after four matches.

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