Chaos in Brazil football final as 23 players see red

By Enitan Abdultawab

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

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

However, the celebrations were overshadowed by a violent confrontation that erupted in the closing moments of the game. The altercation 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 quickly reacted, confronting the goalkeeper and pushing him toward the goalpost. The situation escalated rapidly as players from both sides rushed in, turning the scene 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, as the chaos had prevented disciplinary action from being taken on the pitch.

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

Hulk later described the scenes as unfortunate, noting that such incidents reflect poorly on the players and their clubs and can damage the image of the sport.

“It’s regrettable”, the Brazilian 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.”

Despite the dramatic finale, both sides have struggled in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A this season, with Atletico Mineiro and Cruzeiro sitting near the relegation zone after four matches.

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