A historic brawl erupted in a Brazilian professional football match, marking one of the most serious incidents ever. During stoppage time in the second half of the Minas Gerais State League final, a physical altercation broke out between the two teams and escalated into a large-scale brawl, with as many as 23 players being shown red cards and sent off.
According to various foreign media reports, on the 8th local time, the Minas Gerais State League final saw Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro competing for the championship. Cruzeiro was leading 1:0 when they entered second half stoppage time. A Cruzeiro player took a shot, and although the Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper didn't secure the ball cleanly at first, a collision occurred as the Cruzeiro player attempted a follow-up shot.
The Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper, dissatisfied, threw his opponent to the ground and pressed his knees to the player's head. This triggered a massive altercation, as players from both the pitch and the benches rushed onto the field, leading to a large-scale brawl. In the end, 12 Cruzeiro players and 11 Atlético Mineiro players were sent off; the match concluded with Cruzeiro winning 1:0.
The 23 red cards set a humiliating record in Brazilian professional football history. Among those sent off was former Brazilian national team striker Hulk. After the match, Hulk apologized, saying: "This is very unfortunate. This kind of scene should not be broadcast. Such behavior has caused an uproar around the world. We must protect the image of the players and the clubs."