Is 23 red cards in Brazilian mass brawl a world record? Not even close
Cruzeiro defeated Atlético-MG 1-0 in the 2026 Campeonato Mineiro final, but 23 red cards were issued after a mass brawl erupted between players and staff.
Mass brawl leads to 23 red cards for Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro players in Brazil
A mass brawl during the Campeonato Mineiro final resulted in 23 red cards issued retrospectively, with 12 to Cruzeiro and 11 to Atletico Mineiro players after a goalkeeper's aggressive tackle sparked widespread violence.
WATCH: Mass brawl breaks out between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro with former Brazil star Hulk one of 23 players sent off
A mass brawl involving 23 players erupted during the Campeonato Mineiro final between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro, with Hulk apologizing for the incident and acknowledging its negative impact on Brazilian football's image.
It's regrettable. We cannot set that example because it ends up having repercussions all around the world. We have a responsibility to safeguard our image and the image of the institution.