A youth football match in Brazil has set a new world record after the referee showed 51 red cards following a massive fight between the two teams.
The incident took place during an Under 20 match between Uberlandia and Mamore. Guinness World Records confirmed the record on Wednesday.
The match remained largely peaceful until the closing minutes. However, trouble began when Mamore scored to take a 3-1 lead shortly before the final whistle.
After the goal, Mamore player Davi Fernandes Bittencourt ran towards the Uberlandia bench. According to the referee’s report, he made insulting gestures and directed offensive words at the opposition.
His actions sparked a heated argument, which quickly turned into a mass fight.
Players, coaches and other team officials joined the clash. The situation became so serious that people began throwing chairs and even stretchers.
Brazilian newspaper O Tempo reported that local police had to step in to stop the violence and bring the situation under control.
Referee Fernando Modesto then took action against those involved in the fight. He issued a total of 51 red cards, including 43 to players and eight to members of the coaching staffs.
The number broke the previous world record of 36 red cards in a single football match.
That record had stood since February 27, 2011, when Atletico Claypole faced Victoriano Arenas in Argentina’s fifth division.
The latest incident has now entered the record books as the football match with the most red cards in history.
