adminRIO DE JANEIRO. — Ten red cards and eight yellows. Brazilian footballers are traditionally known for their skill on the ball, but there wasn’t much on show in the Bahia state championship match between Vitoria and Bahia.
The Brazilian derby between Vitoria and Bahia had to be abandoned after nine players were given red cards.
An explosive end to the match saw the fixture abandoned with just 11 minutes remaining.
Hosts Vitoria saw six of their players sent off as the game erupted into a mass punch-up between the two rival sides.
The ugly scenes soon unfolded following Bahia celebrations after Vinicius levelled the scoreline at 1-1 with a penalty kick, cancelling out Denilson’s earlier strike.
A provocative dance in front of the Vitoria supporters led to fury from the home players and punches were thrown from both sides.
Initially, five players were given red cards, three from Bahia and two from Vitoria.
Two more players, one from each side, were sent off a couple of minutes later, as tempers frayed and trouble spread to the terraces.
With 13 minutes remaining a fourth Vitoria player was sent off, prompting Bruno Bispo to kick the ball away and force the referee into awarding him his second yellow and a match-ending red.
With teams requiring a minimum of seven players, the referee was forced to end the game.
Brazil’s sporting court will now decide what action to take over the indiscipline and the result. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter