Bolivian Football Chaos: 7 Red Cards in One Match

Bolivian Football Descends Into Absolute Chaos

In what can only be described as footballing madness, the Bolivian top division witnessed an unimaginable spectacle: seven red cards shown in a single match! The clash between Blooming and Bolivar ended 2-1 to the visitors, but the football itself became a mere footnote in a game that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

The Perfect Storm: Waterlogged Pitch and Early Drama

The stage was set for chaos from the opening minutes, with a massive puddle forming near Blooming’s goal. The trouble began in earnest at the 13-minute mark when Bolivar delivered a ball into the penalty area. Blooming captain Moises Villarroel brought down Damian Battalini, sending the unfortunate player sliding through the rainwater.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot, but Bolivar’s Martin Cauteruccio failed to convert the penalty. The match was already showing signs of the madness to come.

Goals and Carnage: The Match Explodes

Against the run of play, Blooming opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through Santiago Etchebarne. Just six minutes later, the match descended into complete chaos in what would become the most controversial episode of the game.

As Bolivar pushed for an equalizer, poor Battalini found himself on the receiving end of another foul in the penalty area – this time from the Blooming goalkeeper. Once again, Damian ended up sliding through that same cursed water puddle.

Mass Brawl Leads to Unprecedented Red Cards

The incident sparked immediate confrontation as Blooming players surrounded Battalini. Teammate Daniel Cataño rushed to his defense and initiated a full-scale brawl. When the dust settled, the referee produced an astonishing five red cards from the single incident – three to Bolivar and two to Blooming, including the instigator Cataño and the unfortunate Battalini himself.

Playing Against All Odds

Despite being reduced to fewer players, Bolivar refused to collapse. Patricio Rodriguez equalized in the 52nd minute, setting up a dramatic finale. Just one minute later, another Bolivar forward, Dorny Romero, found himself through on goal only to be dragged down by Etchebarne pulling his shirt. The referee had no choice but to send off the Blooming defender.

The home team’s discipline completely unraveled as they earned their fourth red card just four minutes later. Defender Denilson Duran committed a brutal tackle on Esclaizon Rivero in what appeared to be a moment of pure madness – Rivero wasn’t even close to threatening Blooming’s goal.

Historic Victory Against All Odds

Blooming found themselves down to just seven players. Under FIFA rules, a match can continue as long as a team has at least seven players on the field. Incredibly, Bolivar now found themselves with a numerical advantage despite having eight players themselves.

The visitors capitalized on their unexpected advantage, with Rivero – the same player who had drawn Blooming’s final red card – scoring the winner in the 90th minute.

Aftermath and League Criticism

Seven red cards, multiple brawls, and a pitch covered in deep puddles – the Bolivian championship continues to surprise and shock in equal measure. Argentine player Patricio Rodriguez, who started Bolivar’s comeback, didn’t hold back when assessing the league’s quality in 2024: “The Bolivian league is almost amateur. It makes a mockery of itself every week. This is the worst championship in South America.”

After witnessing such a spectacle of chaos and poor discipline, it’s difficult to argue with his assessment.