Belo Horizonte
AP
—
Twenty-three gamers had been proven a red card as a prolonged brawl requiring the intervention of navy police marred the ultimate seconds of a Brazilian soccer match between Cruzeiro and Atletico Mineiro.
Former Brazil ahead Hulk was among the many gamers despatched off following the violence that lasted greater than a minute and unfold from one end of the sector towards the opposite as substitutes, members of teaching employees and safety additionally weighed in.
“We need to acknowledge our mistakes and learn from them,” Hulk wrote on Instagram on Monday. “What happened yesterday does not represent the values that soccer should embody. Rivalry is part of the sport, but respect must always prevail over any emotion.”
It was sparked by a problem by Cruzeiro midfielder Christian on Atletico goalkeeper Everson, who responded by rugby-tackling his opponent to the bottom and dropping each knees into his head.
That led to a mass combat as gamers from each groups piled in, punching and kicking one another. In footage shared throughout social media, Hulk, who performs for Atletico, was seen punching an opponent on the again of the top then getting kicked in the chest.
“I apologize to everyone who was in the stadium, to those who watched it on television, and especially to the children who look up to football. What we saw on the pitch is not the example we want to set,” Hulk added.
According to statistics supplied by the groups, Cruzeiro had 12 gamers despatched off and Atletico had 11.
Cruzeiro wound up successful 1-0 in the Campeonato Mineiro closing to turn into state champion in Minas Gerais.