Nestor Guillen on Sunday equalled the world record for the most number of red cards handed out during a soccer match, er, brawl, when he sent off 36 players in a Paraguayan junior league match.

Nobody escaped red, and all the players and substitutes from both teams received their marching orders.

They’d all decided to get into a mass brawl deep into the second half after Guillen sent off a player from each side, but the pair refused to leave the field, and continued their fight.

Chaos broke out, and the match officials opted to rush to their dressing room. It was from there that they proceeded to dish out the cards.

Neither president of the two clubs was happy with the match officials.

President of the home club, Teniente Farina, Hernan Martinez, said:

The referees didn’t even stay on the field. As soon as the fighting broke out they went to the dressing room. They ran through the tunnel to their dressing room. They weren’t able to see anything that happened. But, in the report, to more or less wash their hands of the responsibility, they expelled all 36 players.

And Sixto Nunez, president of away club Libertad, said:

The referee needed to take better care of the boys. He should have made sure that the two dismissed players were completely off the field. Instead, the officials left the field and when the players were all leaving together that’s when the fighting started again.

All players were immediately suspended and await further disciplinary action.

[Source: Sky]