17 sent off in one football game after player starts huge brawl

Police had to intervene

The quarter-final of the Copa Bolivia featured 17 red cards, and a mass brawl between players that was only put to an end by the intervention of local police using tear gas.

The match between Bolivian sides Club Blooming and Real Ocuro ended in a 2-2 draw, but this result was overshadowed by events after full-time.

Players from both teams, as well as a significant proportion of coaching staff, were seen throwing punches at each other, after the match ended.

Local media outlet El Potosi reported that the incident began as a result of an interaction between Real Oruro's Sebastian Zeballos and a number of Blooming players. A minor dispute quickly turned into a pushing match and Zeballos was soon seen being held back by a number of opposing players.

Thinks very quickly escalated from then on, after one of Zeballos' teammates Julio Vila began throwing punches at opponents.

Next, Oruro coach Marcelo Robledo could be seen pushed to the floor by another opposing player, Per reports, the coach had to attend hospital afterwards in order to receive treatment for a shoulder injury and a blow to his head.

The chaotic scenes were finally out to bed as the result of the intervention of 20 police officers, who made use of tear gas to separate the players.

Referee Renan Castillo then got to work brandishing red cards for those involved, with 17 handed out in total.

Seven Blooming players saw red as did four from Ocuro.

The other ten red cards were handed out to coaching staff.

Beyond the red cards and suspensions, it is likely that the two clubs may face further punishment for their role in the match's decent into chaos.

The referee sent a report to the Sports Disciplinary Tribunal in Bolivia, who will decide on what further action may be necessary.