Uberlandia-Mamore Semi-Final Produces Reported World-Record 51 Red Cards

What changed

A Brazilian under-20 semi-final between Uberlandia and Mamore produced 51 red cards, a reported world record. Forty-three players and eight coaching staff members were dismissed after a second-half brawl, with Mamore leading 3-1.

The match was halted for about 40 minutes and then abandoned. Police recorded damage at Parque do Sabia Stadium, including 14 broken doors, damaged showers, smashed windows and destroyed benches, tables and chairs.

Why it matters

This was more than a match that boiled over. It left Mamore with only seven available players for the second leg, making a normal continuation impossible. Uberlandia then conceded that leg, calling the decision a gesture of fair play, and will play in the third-place match instead.

The chain of events began when Mamore player Davi taunted the opposition bench during celebrations. Uberlandia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos ran onto the pitch to confront him, triggering the wider clash. Three players had already been sent off.

The reported record surpasses the previous mark of 36 red cards from a 2011 fifth-division match in Argentina. The striking detail is not only the number. A semi-final was effectively decided by the fallout from one confrontation, leaving both clubs with a damaged stadium, an abandoned match and a competition outcome shaped by player availability rather than the remaining 90 minutes.