Former Brazil attacker Hulk was one of a record 23 players sent off on Sunday after a mass brawl as his Atletico Mineiro side lost 1-0 to Cruzeiro in the Campeonato Mineiro league final.
Seconds before the final whistle, referee Matheus Candancan showed 39-year-old Hulk and 10 of his teammates red cards, as well as 12 Cruzeiro players, as tempers flared with punches being thrown and individuals being kicked.
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The incident in the 96th minute, with 30 seconds remaining in stoppage time, was sparked after an altercation between Mineiro goalkeeper Everson and opposition attacker Christian. Christian rugby-tackled Everson before the keeper pinned his opponent to the ground with his knee.
According to a specialist website, the previous Brazilian record of 22 red cards was set in 1954.
In footage circulating social media, Hulk appears to attempt to punch one of his opponents.
“I apologise to everyone who was at the stadium, to those who watched on TV and especially to the children who see football as an inspiration,” Hulk said.
“What we saw is not the example we want to set.”
The ex-Porto striker added: “It’s regrettable. We cannot set that example because it ends up having repercussions all around the world. We have a responsibility to safeguard our image and the image of the institution.”
The world record for red cards was set in 2011 in fifth division Argentine game went 36 people were sent off.
“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,” Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge said.
“I went to defend my teammates.”
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