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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

Which football match holds the record for the most red cards?

Cruzeiro keeper Cássio Ramos (centre) and teammates fight with players of Atlético Mineiro
Cruzeiro keeper Cássio Ramos (centre) and teammates fight with Atlético Mineiro players during the 2026 Campeonato Mineiro final. The brawl ended in 23 red cards. Photograph: Pedro Vilela/Getty Images

“Are the 23 red cards shown in the game between Brazilian clubs Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro in the Campeonato Mineiro final a record?” asks Tom Reed.

In case you missed it, the Campeonato Mineiro final descended/ascended into a festival of hand-throwing. Cruzeiro won the football match 1-0 and the red card contest 12-11. We had a similar question back in 2002, when the world record was 20 in a Paraguayan league match between Sportivo Ameliano and General Caballero. But modern life is febrile, and that record was obliterated by events in Claypole, Argentina, in February 2011. Don’t take our word for it, read this excerpt from Guinness World Records:

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