Brazilian player loses a tooth in a fight after a heated match (video)

Botafogo defender Alexandre Barbosa lost a front tooth after being punched by Flamengo defender Cleiton in a brawl between players at the end of a heated Rio de Janeiro state league match at the Maracana.

At the end of the match in which Flamengo won 1-0 over its guest Botafogo, the Brazilian league and Libertadores Cup champion, yesterday, Wednesday, the Argentine Barbosa began arguing with Bruno Henrique, so the Botafogo defender pushed Henrique, the Flamengo winger, to the ground, starting a mass brawl between the players of the two teams.

After the two teams' technical staff tried to calm the situation, Barbosa went after Bruno Henrique, and after he missed a punch to the Brazilian winger, he was hit in the face by Flamengo's substitute defender, Cleton.

Barbosa, who was named the best defender in South America last season and in the best team of the 2024 Copa Libertadores after a great season in which Botafogo won the double, left the field bleeding and missing one of his front teeth.

Alexander Barboza foi seme pro peladeiro. pic.twitter.com/DwtvKXQX6e

— Informa Fogo (@informafogo) February 13, 2025

Barbosa was shown a straight red card, while Cleton, Bruno Henrique and Flamengo teammate Gerson were also sent off, following the brawl that continued in the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms, with Rio's military police intervening to control the players.

The match was tense between city rivals, with Botafogo players complaining to the referee midway through the first half after Flamengo midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz elbowed winger Matheus Martins in the face, demanding he be shown a red card.

But referee Bruno Correia only showed a yellow card, and the VAR did not consider the matter worthy of review.

Flamengo defender Leo Ortiz scored the only goal of the match with a header in the second half to raise Flamengo's score to 17 points at the top of the standings.

Botafogo, who will visit Argentina next week to face Copa Sudamericana champion Racing Club in the first leg of the South American Super Cup, are sixth with 12 points.

(Reuters)