A total of 23 players received red cards following a massive brawl between Brazilian clubs Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro during the Campeonato Mineiro final.
Kaio Jorge scored the decisive goal in Belo Horizonte, leading Cruzeiro, managed by former Brazil coach Tite, to a 1-0 victory over Atletico, clinching the championship of Minas Gerais for the first time since 2019.
However, the match was overshadowed by a violent altercation in the final moments, prompting intervention from security personnel and military police. This incident resulted in the retrospective dismissal of 23 players, including the former Brazil forward Hulk from Atletico.
The conflict escalated when Atletico’s goalkeeper Everson forcefully pushed Christian to the ground and held him down with his knee after the Cruzeiro midfielder collided with him while pursuing a loose ball.
Christian’s teammates quickly rallied to confront Everson, pushing him against the goalpost, which triggered a larger confrontation as additional players joined in while officials struggled to separate the teams.
Despite the chaos, referee Matheus Delgado Candancan did not issue any red cards during the match. However, Brazilian media outlet Globo reported that the fighting prevented the match official from issuing cards on the field, leading to the expulsion of 23 players later.
Cruzeiro had 12 players, including goalscorer Jorge, sent off, while 11 Atletico players—among them former Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest defender Renan Lodi and Hulk—were also dismissed.
“It’s unfortunate,” Hulk remarked after the incident. “We shouldn’t set this example, as it affects our reputation on a global scale. We bear a responsibility to protect our image and that of our institution.”
Currently, both Atletico and Cruzeiro have struggled in the Serie A season, remaining winless after four matches, positioned 17th and 19th, respectively, in the Brazilian top division.