A dramatic conclusion to the Campeonato Mineiro final descended into chaos as 23 players were retrospectively sent off following a mass brawl between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro.
Cruzeiro secured the state championship with a narrow 1-0 victory in Belo Horizonte, thanks to a decisive goal from Kaio Jorge. The triumph, achieved under the guidance of former Brazil national team coach Tite, marked Cruzeiro’s first Minas Gerais state title since 2019.
However, the match was overshadowed by violent scenes in the closing moments, when a confrontation between players escalated into a full-scale melee involving both teams. Security personnel and military police were forced to intervene to restore order.
The flashpoint occurred when Atletico Mineiro goalkeeper Everson pushed Cruzeiro midfielder Christian to the ground and pressed a knee into his chest after the two collided while chasing a loose ball. Christian’s team-mates immediately confronted the goalkeeper, shoving him against the goalpost and sparking a wider altercation as players from both sides rushed into the fray.
Referee Matheus Delgado Candancan did not issue any red cards during the match itself, as the scale of the incident prevented him from taking immediate disciplinary action. However, Brazilian outlet Globo reported that, following a review of the events, officials later issued red cards to 23 players involved in the confrontation.
Cruzeiro saw 12 players dismissed, including goalscorer Kaio Jorge. Atletico Mineiro had 11 players sent off, among them former Brazil international forward Hulk and ex-Atletico Madrid and Nottingham Forest full-back Renan Lodi.
Despite the extraordinary number of expulsions, the incident falls short of the record for the most red cards in a professional match. That distinction belongs to a 2011 fifth-division Argentine fixture between Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas, in which all 36 players involved were dismissed after what the referee described as a “generalised brawl.”
Following Sunday’s final, Hulk expressed regret over the events and acknowledged the broader impact such incidents can have on the sport’s reputation.
“It’s regrettable,” he said. “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.”
Both clubs now return to domestic league action amid difficult starts to the Brazilian Serie A season. After four matches, Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro remain without a win and currently sit 17th and 19th respectively in the standings.
