23 players sent off after mass brawl in Cruzeiro vs Atletico Mineiro final

• Cruzeiro Esporte Clube beat Clube Atlético Mineiro 1-0 to win the Campeonato Mineiro title
• A late mass brawl resulted in 23 players being sent off after the match
• Kaio Jorge scored the decisive goal in Belo Horizonte

A total of 23 players were sent off after a mass confrontation broke out during the final of the Campeonato Mineiro between Cruzeiro Esporte Clube and Clube Atlético Mineiro.

Cruzeiro secured the title with a 1-0 victory in Belo Horizonte, with the winning goal scored by Kaio Jorge. The win gave Cruzeiro their first state championship since 2019.

The match, managed by referee Matheus Delgado Candancan, was overshadowed by a violent melee in the closing stages that required security staff and military police to intervene.

The confrontation began when Atlético goalkeeper Everson pushed Cruzeiro midfielder Christian to the ground after the pair collided while chasing a loose ball. Everson then placed his knee on the player’s chest.

Christian’s teammates reacted by confronting the goalkeeper and shoving him toward the goalpost. The situation quickly escalated as players from both teams became involved while security personnel attempted to separate the groups.

Although no red cards were issued during the match itself, Brazilian media later reported that 23 players were sent off retrospectively after the incident prevented the referee from showing the cards during the game.

Cruzeiro had 12 players dismissed, including goalscorer Kaio Jorge. Atlético had 11 players sent off, among them former Brazil international Hulk and defender Renan Lodi.

The incident drew comparisons with one of the most notorious disciplinary moments in football history. During a match between Atlético Claypole and Victoriano Arenas in February 2011, all 36 players involved in the match were sent off after what the referee described as a “generalised brawl.”

Speaking after the final, Hulk said the scenes were damaging for the image of the game.

“It’s regrettable,” he said. “We cannot set that example because it ends up having repercussions around the world. We have a responsibility to safeguard our image and the image of the institution.”

Both Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro have struggled in the early stages of the current Campeonato Brasileiro Série A season. After four matches, Atlético sit 17th in the table while Cruzeiro are 19th.