Hulk speaks out after mass brawl in the derby, apologises to fans

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·9 March 2026

Hulk speaks out after mass brawl in the derby, apologises to fans

The forward Hulk spoke out early this Monday afternoon (09), through a post on his Instagram page, about the mass brawl that marked the final moments of the derby between Atlético and Cruzeiro, played on the night of last Sunday (08). The match, which was the final of the Campeonato Mineiro, ended with a 1-0 victory for Cruzeiro.

The confusion began at the 51st minute of the second half and quickly escalated, involving players from both teams on the field. Amid the turmoil, the refereeing team recorded the disciplinary sanctions in the match report afterwards. In total, 23 players were sent off, with 12 from Cruzeiro and 11 from Atlético.

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On the Atlético side, those who received red cards were: Everson, Renan Lodi, Gabriel Delfim, Junior Alonso, Alan Franco, Hulk, Lyanco, Ruan Tressoldi, Alan Minda, Preciado, and Cassierra.

For Cruzeiro, the players sent off were: Christian, Fabrício Bruno, Lucas Romero, Kaio Jorge, João Marcelo, Kauã Prates, Lucas Villalba, Cássio, Matheus Henrique, Walace, Fagner, and Gerson.

In light of the episode’s repercussion, Hulk published a statement on social media acknowledging the mistake and apologizing to the fans, especially to the children who see football as an inspiration.

See the statement below:

“What happened in yesterday's match does not represent the values that football should convey. Rivalry is part of the sport, but respect must be above any emotion. I apologize to everyone who was at the stadium, to those who watched on television, and especially to the children who see football as an inspiration. What we saw on the field is not the example we want to set. I take responsibility for my part in what happened and regret that moment. I am sure that many of the athletes involved are men of character, family men, and responsible people who would never step onto the field intending to harm anyone. We made mistakes, but we also need to recognize when we are wrong and learn from it. May this episode serve as a reflection for all of us. We move forward, respecting football and everyone who loves this sport.”

The brawl in the derby will now have developments at the STJD, which will analyze the events reported in the referee’s match report. The players sent off may be charged and subject to penalties.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.