A Brazilian under-20 semifinal ended in an extraordinary mass dismissal after a brawl, with the number of people shown red cards reported as either 51 or 53 depending on who is counted. The match between Uberlândia and Mamoré finished 3-1 in Mamoré’s favor in the Minas Gerais state championship.

The Associated Press reported that 43 players and eight members of team staff were sent off, a total of 51. Reuters reported the same 51 players and staff, plus two Uberlândia board members, bringing its overall count to 53. The reports therefore differ in whether the two club officials are included in the headline tally.

According to the referee’s match report cited by AP, the confrontation erupted after Mamoré scored its third goal late in the game. The match had already been stopped for about 40 minutes earlier, after club officials entered the field following a sending-off.

The number would surpass the 36 red cards Guinness World Records lists for a professional match in Argentina in 2011, though the coverage describes the Brazilian total as a possible record rather than a confirmed Guinness entry.

Uberlândia later forfeited the return leg, saying Mamoré did not have enough eligible players to field a team. That decision sent Mamoré through to the final of the state under-20 competition.

The incident occurred in a youth state competition, not a senior professional league. The unusual total reflects both the number of players and staff disciplined and, in Reuters’ count, two club board members; it is not simply a count of players on the pitch.

Sources: Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle; Reuters.