Fifty-one red cards. In the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship semi-final first leg on November 1, 2026, referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto dismissed 43 players and eight coaching staff in total after a 40-minute mass brawl between Uberlândia and Mamoré, shattering the previous world record of 36 set in Argentina in 2011.
The chaos at Parque do Sabiá was not merely a disciplinary freak show. Uberlândia conceded the second leg as a “gesture of fair play”, leaving Mamoré to advance to the final with only seven available players.
How a 3-1 Celebration Triggered a 40-Minute Meltdown
The flashpoint arrived in stoppage time. With Mamoré leading 3-1, Davi Fernandes Bittencourt celebrated his third goal by taunting the Uberlândia bench with provocative gestures and shouts, GiveMeSport reported. Uberlândia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sérgio Dias dos Santos sprinted onto the pitch to confront him, sparking clashes that engulfed virtually every player and staff member from both sides.
But the tape tells a different story about the match’s volatility. Earlier in the second half, Uberlândia’s Luike Bispo dos Santos had already been sent off in the 54th minute for recklessly striking an opponent in the abdominal area. Three players had been dismissed before the brawl even erupted, per the referee’s report. The match had already teetered on the edge.
From 36 to 51: The Record That Fell in Minas Gerais
The scale of the dismissals dwarfed the previous benchmark. Guinness World Records recognized the 51 red cards as a new world record, surpassing the 36 issued by referee Damián Rubino in the February 27, 2011 Argentine fifth-division clash between Club Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas.
| Match | Date | Red Cards | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uberlândia vs Mamoré | November 1, 2026 | 51 (ESPN reports 53) | Minas Gerais U-20 Championship |
| Club Atlético Claypole vs Victoriano Arenas | February 27, 2011 | 36 | Argentine Primera D |
| Cruzeiro vs Atlético Mineiro | March 2026 | 23 | Campeonato Mineiro final |
GiveMeSport reported 22 Uberlândia players and 21 Mamoré players were sent off, plus four staff members from each bench. ESPN, however, cited a total of 53 when including two additional Uberlândia board members and three earlier dismissals, highlighting how chaotic the official record-keeping became during the melee.
Uberlândia’s Fair-Play Concession Ends the Semi-Final
The aftermath proved as consequential as the brawl itself. With Mamoré left with only seven available players, Uberlândia confirmed they would concede the second leg of the semi-final, describing the move as a “gesture of fair play.” The decision sends Mamoré through to the final while relegating Uberlândia to the third-place match.
Threats to the Referee and the Stadium’s Destruction
The violence extended far beyond the touchline. Military police were called to restore order, and the damage was extensive: O Tempo reported 14 broken doors, damaged shower facilities, broken windows, and destroyed benches, tables, and chairs at Parque do Sabiá. The match was paused for approximately 40 minutes before Modesto abandoned it entirely.
The referee himself became a target. GiveMeSport reported that Uberlândia officials allegedly threatened Modesto with physical violence, telling him “You’re not leaving here today” and “You will never referee again.” ESPN’s reporting noted that death threats and other threats of violence were formally alleged in the referee’s report, with a police report subsequently filed.
Contextualizing the volatility, former Porto winger Hulk reflected on a separate mass brawl in the March 2026 Campeonato Mineiro final between Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro, where 23 red cards were shown:
“I don’t recall ever participating in violence like that at a football match I attended. I don’t. It’s regrettable, and I will never tire of apologising. Of course, we are defending our colors, we will defend them to the death.”
Mamoré progresses to the final shorthanded but unopposed, while Uberlândia will focus on the third-place match.
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