A routine fixture in Argentina’s fifth division descended into one of the most infamous matches in football history, as referee Damián Rubino issued a staggering 36 red cards during a chaotic clash between Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in 2011.
The game began without incident, but tensions quickly rose when two players were dismissed before the interval. What followed after the restart, however, went far beyond football.
The second half erupted into a mass brawl, with players exchanging punches and tempers spilling over from the pitch to the technical areas.
As the violence escalated, coaches and substitutes became involved, and the match spiralled completely out of control.
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With order impossible to restore, referee Rubino took the extraordinary decision to send off every single player still on the field.
He then turned his attention to the sidelines, issuing further red cards to substitutes and coaching staff.
By the time the chaos subsided, 36 individuals had been dismissed, all 22 players plus 14 substitutes and officials, forcing the match to be abandoned.
The unprecedented incident later earned its place in the record books as the football match with the most red cards ever shown.
The Argentine Football Association launched disciplinary proceedings in the aftermath, handing out lengthy bans and heavy sanctions to both clubs.
FKA/JE
