Bolivia Cup Game Witnesses 17 Red Cards & Riots

A game in the Bolivia Cup turned into a heated brawl between players and staff, prompting the referee to show the red card 17 times.

The match between Blooming and Real Oruro in the second leg of the Bolivia Cup quarter-finals witnessed violent clashes between the players of both teams, which led the referee to issue 17 red cards during the game.

The second-leg match ended in a 2–2 draw, sending Blooming to the semi-finals after their 2–1 victory in the first leg. 

However, the atmosphere on the pitch was extremely tense, as violence erupted immediately after the final whistle.

Video footage showed widespread clashes among the players of both teams, escalating into physical fights between some players and technical staff members, scenes that many described as shocking on social media.

The Bolivian newspaper El Potosí reported that the riots began with Sebastián Ceballos, the Oruro star, who pushed opposing players. 

His teammate Julio Vila also joined angrily, throwing punches that ignited the chaos on the pitch.

There was also a confrontation between Marcelo Robledo, Oruro’s coach, and a member of Blooming’s technical staff, during which Robledo fell on his back. 

Bolivian police had to use tear gas to disperse the violent incidents that marked the quarter-final match.

The match report indicated that the referee issued 17 red cards: 8 to Blooming players, 4 to Oruro players, and 5 to technical staff members, an unprecedented scene reflecting the chaos that overwhelmed the encounter.