The incident occurred between two top teams in Brazil on Sunday, March 8
Credit: Pedro Vilela/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A soccer game between Brazilian Serie A teams Cruzeiro Esporte Clube and Atlético Mineiro broke out into a mass brawl on Sunday, March 8
- Footage of the fight showed players who weren’t on the field joining the scuffle
- A total of 23 players received red cards
A mass brawl broke out during a soccer game in Brazil, resulting in a huge number of players receiving red cards.
On Sunday, March 8, 23 players were sent off the field following the brawl between Cruzeiro Esporte Clube and Atlético Mineiro in Belo Horizonte, according to the Associated Press.
“Clube Atlético Mineiro and its athletes do not condone any form of violence in football,” Atlético Mineiro wrote in a post on X on Sunday.
“At the end of the match played this Sunday at Mineirão Stadium, valid for the final of the Campeonato Mineiro, regrettable scenes of mutual aggression involving athletes on the field were recorded,” they added.
Credit: Pedro Vilela/Getty
The club went on to say that they would make sure the incident did not occur again, adding that it remains committed to “respect, to fair play, and to the values that should guide the sport.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Cruzeiro Esporte Clube for comment but did not immediately receive a response
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The fight began when Cruzeiro midfielder Christian challenged Atletico goalkeeper Everson, who then tackled Christian and pulled him to the ground, according to the AP.
In footage shared on social media and by ESPN, Everson was seen kneeling on top of Christian as he laid on the ground covering his head.
Players from both teams then came to their teammates' defenses by punching and kicking one another.
Along with 23 players being given red cards, per the AP, the local military police also had to intervene in the fight.
Among the 23 players who received red cards was Atlético Mineiro forward Hulk, who condemned Sunday’s incident.
Hulk was seen punching an opponent’s head before getting kicked in the chest, per the AP.
Credit: Pedro Vilela/Getty
“What happened in yesterday's game does not represent the values that football should convey. Rivalry is part of the sport, but respect must always prevail over any emotion,” he wrote on his Instagram Stories, per the AP.
Hulk added, “I apologize to everyone who was in the stadium, to those who watched on television, and especially to the children who look to football for inspiration. What we saw on the field is not the example we want to set.”
Hulk went on to say that he takes full responsibility “for my part in what happened and I regret that moment.”
The soccer player continued that athletes would never get on the field “with the intention of harming anyone," adding, “We make mistakes, but we also need to acknowledge when we're wrong and learn from them. May this episode serve as a reflection for all of us. We move forward, respecting football and everyone who loves this sport.”
Sunday's game finished with Cruzeiro winning 1-0. Cruzeiro are currently in 19th place in the Brazilian Serie A league — the top tier of soccer in Brazil — while Atlético Mineiro are in 17th.
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