World Record 53 Red Cards Issued In Brazilian Under-20 Match
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Post By
Emmie
- November 5, 2026
An under-20s football match in Brazil shattered the world record for the highest number of red cards shown in a single fixture, with a referee handing out 53 dismissals following an extensive pitch-side brawl.
The incidents occurred during the first leg of the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final between host team Uberlândia and visitors Mamoré. The chaotic scenes resulted in red cards for 43 players, eight coaching staff members, and two Uberlândia board members.
The 53 total dismissals easily eclipse the previous world record of 36 red cards, set in February 2011 during an Argentine fifth-division match between Club Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas.
Reflecting on the breakdown of control in his official post-match report, referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto said:
"In the 54th minute of the second half, a generalized brawl broke out, making it impossible to show the red cards and to carry out the match-closing protocol. Therefore, owing to all the turmoil and the lack of security, I declared the match ended."
How the On-Field Confrontation Escalated
Tension had already built earlier in the second half when several Uberlândia officials stepped onto the field after one of their players received a red card, prompting an initial 40-minute pause in play.
Following the resumption of the match, Mamoré scored in the ninth minute of stoppage time to take a 3-1 lead. The brawl broke out immediately after, sparked when Mamoré player Davi taunted the home team's bench during goal celebrations. Uberlândia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sérgio Dias Dos Santos ran onto the pitch to confront him, triggering widespread physical clashes among players, substitutes, and staff.
Military police were called to the Parque do Sabiá Stadium due to widespread disorder and property damage. Subsequent police and match reports detailed extensive destruction, citing 14 broken doors, shattered windows, ruined tables, chairs, and benches, as well as damaged shower facilities in the dressing rooms. Match officials also reported receiving personal threats during the melee.
The sheer volume of red cards left Mamoré with only seven eligible players for the upcoming return fixture. In response, Uberlândia announced on Wednesday that it would forfeit the second leg of the semi-final, allowing Mamoré to advance directly to the tournament's championship final while Uberlândia shifts its focus to the third-place playoff.
Addressing the decision and the internal response to the incident, Uberlândia released an official statement:
"The club has also not remained silent: the appropriate disciplinary measures regarding those involved have already been taken internally, because athletic development is, above all, a matter of personal development."
