A world record 51 red cards were shown in one game during an Under-20 match in Brazil following a mass brawl.
The Guinness Book of World Records has confirmed that the game saw the most dismissals ever, with 43 players and eight members of coaching staff given their marching orders.
Said record came after the Minas Gerais Under-20 Championship clash between Uberlandia and Mamore descended into chaos following an altercation near the technical areas.
Uberlandia had initially been reduced to ten men after Luike Bispo dos Santos struck an opposing player in the stomach.
In the 54th minute of the game, nearly four football teams’ worth of players were involved in an incident that saw some players chasing others, with military police called to the stadium.
The referee reported that six ball boys were also involved, and threw punches, kicks and objects at players and coaching staff.
A record 51 players were shown a red card amid a mass brawl during a Brazilian match
Weapons were also said to have been used, including stretchers and chairs. The chaos took well over half an hour to cool.
The previous record was 36 red cards, achieved after a brawl in an Argentine fifth division game between Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in 2011.
According to Brazilian outlet Ge Globo, Uberlandia manager Willer Francisco Silva ran onto the field to confront referee Fernando Patrick with two other members of his coaching staff.
It is reported that threats of violence were given.
The game was eventually re-started, before the fourth goal of the game, which put Uberlandia down, triggered the brawl.
In total, 22 players from Uberlandia and 21 from their opponents were sent off, as well as four members of staff from each side.
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