A Bolivian top-flight football match descended into chaos after a mass brawl led to seven players being sent off and police using tear gas to restore order. The clash between Blooming and Bolivar saw five red cards in the first half alone, with two more in the second, leaving just 17 players on the pitch.
The trouble began six minutes before half-time when Blooming goalkeeper Braulio Uraezana confronted Bolivar's Damian Batallani after a collision. Both sets of players became involved in kicking, pushing and punching, with police officers having to run onto the pitch to break up the melee.
Blooming, reduced to seven men after four red cards, lost 2-1 to Bolivar, who had three players sent off. The violence continued after the final whistle in the changing rooms, prompting police to use tear gas. Post-match press conferences were cancelled.
Bolivar goalkeeper Carlos Lampe expressed concern, saying: 'I was worried about what happened at the end. That can't happen. They hit our goalkeeping coach, they got into a fistfight.' Teammate Daniel Catano, one of those sent off, criticised the referee, claiming he 'got carried away by the emotion of the moment'.
The Bolivian Football Federation confirmed it was considering sanctioning both teams. Despite the chaos, the match did not break the national record for most red cards, which stands at eight from a 1999 game also involving Blooming.
