The Campeonato Mineiro final between fierce rivals Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro descended into chaos on Sunday, March 9, 2026, producing a world-record 23 red cards after a violent on-pitch brawl that forced military police intervention and left the sport reeling.
What should have been a celebration of Belo Horizonte’s most intense rivalry instead turned into a full-scale melee involving players, substitutes, and coaching staff trading punches and flying kicks deep into stoppage time.
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Cruzeiro held a slender 1–0 lead (goal by Kaio Jorge) when Atlético goalkeeper Everson aggressively pinned Cruzeiro midfielder Christian to the turf in a challenge. The incident ignited immediate retaliation from the Cruzeiro bench, triggering a chain reaction across both teams.
Within seconds Atlético’s Hulk was seen striking Cruzeiro’s Lucas Romero, Cruzeiro defender Lucas Villalba responded with a flying kick toward Hulk. Players from both benches poured onto the pitch, turning the field into a battlefield.
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Referee Anderson Daronco, overwhelmed by the scale of the violence, issued an unprecedented 23 dismissals 12 for Cruzeiro and 11 for Atlético Mineiro. This shatters the previous Brazilian record of 22 red cards set in a 1954 match between Portuguesa and Botafogo.
Despite the decimated squads, the result stood: Cruzeiro won 1–0, claiming their first Campeonato Mineiro title since 2019. Atlético forward Hulk, visibly shaken, told reporters: “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 all around the world. We have a responsibility to safeguard our image and the image of the institution.”
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Cruzeiro manager Tite, celebrating the long-awaited trophy, focused on the achievement: “I want to convey to the Cruzeiro fans the affection and respect I have for them. I may lack competence at times, but respect for the fans, the work, the dignity, the honesty that’s what counts.”
Should Referees Have Stopped the Game Earlier? The question dominating Brazilian football discourse is whether referee Anderson Daronco should have abandoned the match sooner to prevent the escalation.
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Critics argue:
The referee allowed play to continue for several minutes after the initial melee began.
Abandoning the game earlier could have avoided the record number of red cards and reduced the risk of serious injury.
FIFA and CBF rules allow referees to terminate matches when player safety is compromised or public order breaks down.
Defenders of Daronco counter:
The match was in stoppage time with a clear result (1–0).
Stopping the game would have denied Cruzeiro their victory and potentially sparked even greater controversy.
The referee attempted to restore order before resorting to mass dismissals.
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The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has launched an immediate disciplinary review, with heavy fines, lengthy suspensions, and possible stadium bans expected for both clubs and individuals involved.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Akai Akeobong
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