A total of 23 players were sent off following a mass brawl during the Campeonato Mineiro final between Brazilian clubs Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro in Belo Horizonte on Sunday.
The chaotic incident occurred deep into stoppage time of Cruzeiro’s 1–0 victory, after a confrontation involving Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper Everson and Cruzeiro midfielder Christian.
The clash began when Christian challenged for a loose ball that Everson had spilled, resulting in a collision between the two players. In response, the goalkeeper brought the midfielder down with a rugby-style tackle before kneeling on him and appearing to press his knee against Christian’s face while shouting at him.
The action immediately provoked reactions from Cruzeiro players, who rushed towards Everson and pushed him into the goal net, sparking a large-scale confrontation between both teams.
The situation quickly escalated into a full-blown brawl across the pitch, with players kicking, punching, and shoving one another while security personnel and team officials struggled to restore order. Substitutes and coaching staff were also drawn into the melee, which lasted for over a minute.
Although the match was eventually completed, Brazilian outlet O Globo reported that the referee later issued 23 red cards after reviewing the incident—12 to Cruzeiro players and 11 to Atlético Mineiro players—all recorded at 90+6 minutes.
Atlético Mineiro forward Hulk described the incident as unfortunate, warning that such scenes could damage the image of the sport.
“It’s regrettable. I have never seen violence like that in any football game. We cannot set that example because it ends up having repercussions around the world. We have a responsibility to protect our image and that of the institution,” he said.
Cruzeiro coach Tite, a former Brazil national team manager, expressed appreciation to supporters after the victory.
“I want to express my affection and respect for the Cruzeiro fans,” he said.
“I may lack competence at times, but respect for the fans, the work, dignity, and honesty are what truly matter.”