‘It’s turned into MMA!’: how a Brazil final descended into anarchy — and 23 red cards

“The final of the Minas Gerais state championship in Brazil descended into chaos on Sunday night, with a violent brawl leading to red cards for no fewer than 23 players. Cruzeiro led bitter rivals Atletico Mineiro 1-0 in added time when a mass altercation — a textbook example of what Brazilians call cenas lamentaveis or lamentable scenes — broke out on the pitch at the Mineirao stadium. The flashpoint was a clash involving Cruzeiro forward Christian and Atletico goalkeeper Everson: the former made a late challenge and ended up pinned to the floor, his upper body trapped under Everson’s legs. Within seconds, almost every player in the two squads, including substitutes, had sprinted over to the goalmouth. Inevitably, a melee ensued. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
YouTube: THE BIGGEST MASS BRAWL IN BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL HAPPENED TODAY! WHAT A CRAZY SCENE!