A Brazilian Under-20 football match has made headlines after a mass brawl led to 51 red cards, surpassing the previously reported record of 36 dismissals in a single game.

The incident happened during the first leg of the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final between Uberlândia and Mamoré on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Parque do Sabiá Stadium. Mamoré won the match 3-1, but the result was overshadowed by violence involving players and members of both teams' technical benches.

According to reports, trouble began late in the second half after Mamoré scored its third goal. A player identified as Davi allegedly made provocative gestures towards the Uberlândia bench while celebrating. Uberlândia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sérgio Dias dos Santos then entered the pitch and confronted him, triggering a confrontation that quickly spread.

Three players had already been sent off before the mass fight. The referee, Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto, subsequently recorded another 48 dismissals involving people accused of taking part in the violence. The total reached 51, comprising 43 players and eight coaching staff members. Some later reports put the wider figure at 53 after including two club officials.

The match was interrupted for about 40 minutes as officials struggled to restore order. Reports also indicated that police were called after damage was reported at the stadium. Items mentioned included broken doors and windows, damaged shower facilities, benches, tables and chairs.

The incident surpassed the previous reported record of 36 red cards, issued during a 2011 match between Argentine fifth-division clubs Club Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas.

In another unexpected development, Uberlândia later announced that it would not play the return leg scheduled for Sunday, November 8. The club said Mamoré had only seven eligible players remaining because of the suspensions and that it did not consider it fair to proceed under those circumstances.

Uberlândia described the decision as a gesture of fair play. The Minas Gerais Football Federation approved the withdrawal, allowing Mamoré to advance to the final.

Uberlândia said it would instead focus on the third-place match, which offers a chance to secure promotion to the top division of the state Under-20 championship in 2027.

SOURCE:https://k24.digital/sports/history-as-record-51-red-cards-shown-in-chaotic-brazilian-youth-match