Brazil vs USA friendly descends into chaos as FOUR players sent off and official branded 'complete disgrace'

Brazil's women's national team had four players sent off in an ill-tempered friendly defeat against the United States in Fortaleza on Tuesday.

Their manager and three other staff were also shown the red card during and after a match that disintegrated into chaos.

Three days after Emma Hayes' team lost to Brazil in Sao Paulo, the rematch ended not only in a total of eight dismissals but the USWNT's first win over Brazil since 1997.

Manager Arthur Elias was the first to be sent off, collecting a second yellow card 12 minutes from time, when two of his backroom staff were also ordered from the bench. A fourth was given the same punishment a minute from time.

The players, all substitutes, joined the party in stoppage time. Palmeiras forward Bia Zaneretto was given a second yellow card for a petulant shove on the USA's Emily Sonnett and Tarciane, who plays for Lyon, got a straight red for an apparent elbow on Sophia Wilson.

Brazil was issued two red cards in added time, including one for an apparent elbow on Sophia Wilson 😳 pic.twitter.com/nSW2J4jEDj

— TNT Sports U.S. (@TNTSportsUS) June 10, 2026

Manchester City star Kerolin and Ludmila, who plays club football in the United States for San Diego Wave, were sent off after the final whistle.

Brazil felt aggrieved after an earlier incident in which the USA's Michelle Cooper appeared to stamp on the knee of Maranhao.

Isabela's own goal was the only goal of the game.

After the match, Brazil midfielder Angelina didn't hold back when speaking to the media.

"Honestly, what happened here today is a complete disgrace," she told Sportv.

"The fourth official had no idea what’s going on the field, VAR doesn’t work. It apparently doesn’t check anything.

"One of our players gets stepped on and nobody reviews it. Then there’s a shove here, and the referee suddenly wants to start sending our players off. So it’s really difficult.

"One of USWNT players gave an interview saying it was a really nice atmosphere. But on the field, she was saying we were trash, that we didn’t know how to play football.

"So it’s a huge lack of respect – both from the refereeing and from their players too.

"They talk and talk, but when it really matters, when there are no cameras, they start saying a lot of crap on the field as well."

All-time great Marta weighs in on referee Paola Cebollada Lopez

There was also post-match condemnation from Marta, the veteran striker and serial World Player of the Year.

"She wanted to be the main figure of the show," she said on GE TV.

"A crowd like that came to watch the game, for her to pull a stunt like that. This kind of refereeing can’t happen, especially in a Brazil vs USA match."

Kerolin, meanwhile, described her red card as 'ridiculous' and accused the referee of 'ruining the game'.

"After the match, the referees lined up for the usual postmatch handshakes flanked by two security officers with plastic shields," reported The Athletic.