A youth football match in Brazil has set a new world record for the most red cards issued in a single game. The chaotic Under-20 semi-final between Mamoré and Uberlândia in the state of Minas Gerais saw an astonishing 53 individuals sent off, shattering the previous Guinness World Record of 36.
That prior mark was set in an Argentine fifth-division match back in February 2011. The new record was established during a match that descended into extreme violence and was abandoned after just 40 minutes of play. A mass brawl erupted, with reports of chairs and stretchers being thrown, which required local police intervention to restore order.
Match abandonment and consequences
The referee was forced to halt the game due to the sheer number of dismissals and because he received serious threats. He later filed a formal police report detailing death threats and threats of physical harm made against him.
In the aftermath, Uberlândia took the extraordinary step of voluntarily forfeiting the scheduled second leg of the semi-final. The club confirmed it had eligible Under-20 and Under-17 players available but chose to withdraw for reasons of fair play. This decision, formally approved by the Minas Gerais Football Federation on November 4, allowed their opponents Mamoré to advance to the final with seven eligible players. Uberlândia publicly thanked the federation for its handling of the incident.
The incident shows ongoing concerns about violence and the safety of match officials in football at various levels of the game. Leyton Orient's next fixture is away to Doncaster Rovers on November 14.
Background and full detail: TNT Sports
