A new record has been established following an under-20 match in Brazil on Sunday, where a total of 51 players and staff members were sent off. During the second half of a local U20 semifinal in Minas Gerais, chaos erupted after Mamoré took a 3-1 lead against Uberlândia.
Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto sent off 40 players and eight staff members during the ensuing brawl, as noted in his report. Three red cards were issued earlier in the match. Additionally, two board members from Uberlândia faced dismissal, raising the total to 53 expulsions.
This surpasses the previous Guinness World Record of 36 red cards, which occurred in a 2011 match between Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in Argentina. The quarrel reportedly began when Mamoré’s Davi taunted the opposing bench after scoring, prompting Uberlândia’s goalkeeping coach, Paulo Sérgio Dias Dos Santos, to confront him on the field.
The referee’s report also mentioned that he received death threats from several individuals, leading to a police report being filed regarding these threats. The match was paused for 40 minutes and ultimately abandoned.
After the incident, accusations surfaced that Uberlândia officials damaged equipment belonging to Mamoré, while members of the Mamoré team were accused of vandalizing the home team’s dressing room.
ESPN’s Francisco De Laurentiis contributed to this report.
Fan Take: This extraordinary incident highlights the intense rivalries and emotions in soccer, particularly at youth levels where stakes can run high. Such events may raise concerns about player and staff conduct, but they also emphasize the need for better conflict management and sportsmanship within the sport.
Source: www.espn.com
