Brazilian under-20 semi-final produces 53 dismissals after mass brawl

A Brazilian under-20 championship semi-final between Uberlandia and Mamore resulted in 53 dismissals after fighting involving players and team staff. BBC Sport reported that the extraordinary disciplinary total came in the first leg of the Minas Gerais competition, with Mamore leading 3-1 when a goal celebration was followed by a mass confrontation.

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The total comprised 43 players, eight members of the coaching staffs and two Uberlandia board members. Three players had already been sent off before the later clashes, according to the BBC’s account. The figure therefore covers dismissals across the match, rather than 53 people all receiving red cards for the same incident.

The Business Standard, citing the referee’s report, said the confrontation began after Mamore player Davi taunted the opposition bench while celebrating his team’s third goal. Uberlandia goalkeeping coach Paulo Sergio Dias Dos Santos then entered the field to confront him, according to that account. The encounter escalated into a wider fight involving members of both sides, producing the bulk of the disciplinary sanctions.

Referee Fernando Patrick Drosghic Modesto also alleged that he had been threatened with death and other violence, The Business Standard reported. A police report was filed over the threats, according to his account. The same coverage reported allegations that Uberlandia officials damaged Mamore’s equipment and that members of the visiting team vandalised the home dressing room. Those claims remain attributed allegations, not court findings.

BBC Sport, citing Brazilian outlet O Tempo, reported that military police were called because of extensive damage at Parque do Sabia Stadium. The BBC described the dismissal total as a world record, exceeding the previous figure of 36 from an Argentine fifth-division match in 2011. That earlier fixture involved Club Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas; the Brazilian total includes coaching staff and club officials as well as players.

Reuters reported that Uberlandia forfeited the second leg on Wednesday because Mamore lacked enough eligible players, sending Mamore into the final.