Cruzeiro Claims 2026 Campeonato Mineiro Title Amidst Mass Brawl
Cruzeiro secured the 2026 Campeonato Mineiro title after defeating Atlético Mineiro 1-0 in a match marred by a massive brawl that resulted in 23 red cards. The incident occurred at the Estádio Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, bringing an abrupt and chaotic end to the final.
The Incident
The altercation began in stoppage time, with Cruzeiro leading 1-0. A rough tackle by Cruzeiro midfielder Christian on Atlético Mineiro goalkeeper Everson ignited the conflict. Everson responded with a rugby-style tackle and struck the opponent in the head with his knee, escalating the situation rapidly.
Players from both teams quickly converged, leading to a full-scale brawl involving punches and kicks. Substitute players, coaching staff, and even security personnel became involved before military and police intervention was required to restore order. The game was halted for approximately eight minutes.
Red Cards and Aftermath
Due to the severity of the brawl, the referee was unable to issue red cards on the field. Following the match, a total of 12 players from Cruzeiro and 11 players from Atlético Mineiro, including Brazilian national team striker Hulk, were shown red cards. Terra reports that this is one of the highest numbers of dismissals in a single match in football history.
The previous record for red cards in a single game was set in an Argentine fifth-division match in February 2011, between Atletico Claypole and Victoriano Arenas, where all 36 participants were ejected.
Hulk’s Apology
Video footage circulating on social media showed Hulk punching an opponent in the back of the head and kicking him in the chest. The following day, Hulk issued an apology on his social media channels, stating, “What happened yesterday does not match the values that soccer should have,” and “Rivalries are part of sports, but no emotion can take precedence over respect.” Terra
2026 Campeonato Mineiro Details
The 2026 Campeonato Mineiro was the 112th edition of the state championship of Minas Gerais, organized by the FMF. The competition began on January 10th and concluded on March 8th, 2026. Wikipedia notes that Atlético Mineiro had won the previous six titles before being defeated by Cruzeiro in the final.
The final was a single-leg match played at the Mineirão stadium. Ge and Gazeta Esportiva both reported the match was broadcast on TV Globo, Sportv, GE TV, SportyNet, and Premiere.