The match between Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro ended with a 1:0 victory for the latter, but the events following the final whistle overshadowed the game itself. According to the Argentine News Agency, the scandal in Belo Horizonte was triggered by a violent altercation between Atlético Mineiro's goalkeeper, Everson, and Cruzeiro's midfielder, Christian. According to the referee's report, the goalkeeper fouled and brutally struck his opponent in the face with his knee, while the midfielder was sanctioned for striking the goalkeeper's head with his shin after the play had already been stopped. This initial incident sparked a massive brawl involving Argentine players: Lucas Romero threw a punch at Everson, which provoked a reaction from Hulk from behind, which in turn was answered by a 'flying kick' from Lucas Villalba. The final of the Mineiro State Championship ended with a historical record of 23 expulsions following a brawl between the players of Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro. This means the suspended players will serve their suspensions in the next State Championship, not in the Brasileirão or the Copa do Brasil. Even the experienced Cassio ran across the entire field to join the fray, which the attempts of mediation by coach Eduardo Domínguez could not contain. Faced with the impossibility of administering justice amid the chaos and mutual aggression, referee Matheus Candançan, who had to request police protection, formalized the expulsions hours later through the official report. The report recorded 23 expulsions; 12 from Cruzeiro and 11 from Atlético Mineiro, making it the match with the most red cards in the history of Brazilian football, surpassing the 22 expulsions by Portuguesa and Botafogo in 1954 during the Rio-São Paulo Tournament. According to the regulations of the Brazilian Code of Sports Justice, the sanctions will be fulfilled only in competitions organized by the Football Federation of Minas Gerais.
