Hulk Among 23 Players Red Carded in Brazil Championship Final Brawl The Mineiro Championship final between Cruzeiro and Atlético-MG ended in chaos as a mass brawl erupted moments before the final whistle, resulting in 23 red cards issued to players from both teams. The incident overshadowed Cruzeiro’s 1-0 victory, which secured their first state title since 2019. The conflict began with 30 seconds remaining in stoppage time when Atlético-MG goalkeeper Éverson blocked a shot from Cruzeiro’s Matheus Pereira. On the rebound, Éverson was tackled by Cruzeiro midfielder Christian, prompting the goalkeeper to confront the player by pinning him to the ground with his knee. The altercation quickly escalated as players from both teams rushed to intervene, while security personnel attempted to separate the groups. A video clip circulating online shows former Brazil international Hulk, 39, who has played for Atlético-MG since 2021, attempting to punch an opposing player during the scuffle. The match was halted for eight minutes as referee Matheus Delgado waited for the situation to de-escalate before signaling the final whistle to crown Cruzeiro champions. Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge, whose second-half goal secured the win, described the incident as a moment of necessity. “Of course we didn’t want the match to end like that, given the spectacle it was, but I couldn’t leave my teammates in trouble and just stand there,” Jorge said. He was among 12 Cruzeiro players who received red cards retrospectively, while Éverson was one of 11 Atlético-MG players dismissed. Both teams, coached by former Brazil manager Tite and another unnamed manager, are winless in four Serie A matches this season. The brawl highlighted the intense rivalry between the clubs, with tensions flaring despite the match’s decisive outcome.#cruzeiro #atltico_mg #christian #mineiro_championship #matheus_pereira
