Memphis Depay sparks 22-man brawl with showboating in Brazilian league

Brazilian football delivered yet another night of chaos as Corinthians clinched their first title in six years - with a familiar face in the middle of a controversial Sao Paolo derby.

Former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay was at the heart of a heated second leg of the Campeonato Paulista final, which saw tempers flare in a feisty 1-0 aggregate victory over Palmeiras.

During the game, FOUR red cards and 13 yellows were handed out to players and coaching staff.

In a match that had almost everything, from crunching tackles to touchline meltdowns, Depay was front and centre of the carnage.

With Corinthians desperately holding onto their slender advantage, Depay attempted a bit of showboating by the corner flag - standing on the ball with his arms outstretched.

His behaviour ended up triggering an all-out melee when an opposition player stormed over and shoved him off the ball.

Chaos ensued as players, substitutes, and coaching staff flooded the pitch in a dramatic confrontation.

But the drama had started much earlier. Holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg, Corinthians were put under severe pressure when Palmeiras were awarded a penalty in the 68th minute.

Felix Torres clattered into Vitor Roque inside the box, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot.

Strangely, Torres escaped a booking despite already being on a yellow, sending Palmeiras boss Abel Ferreira into a furious rant on the touchline.

His anger backfired, though, as he was swiftly sent off himself.

To make matters worse for Palmeiras, captain Raphael Veiga squandered the penalty, keeping Corinthians in control.

Justice finally caught up with Torres moments later when he was dismissed for another reckless challenge on Roque.

From that point on, Corinthians did everything in their power to slow the game down, employing time-wasting tactics and frustrating their opponents.

Then came Depay’s attempt to wind down the clock. The Dutchman balanced on the ball to keep it away from a Palmeiras defender, only to be aggressively shoved off it, igniting the wild brawl that saw players and substitutes storm onto the pitch.

VAR intervened, and two players - Palmeiras' backup goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba and Corinthians’ Jose Martinez - were sent off as a result.

With over 18 minutes of added time played, Corinthians held firm to see out a goalless draw on the night, securing the title and capping off a truly chaotic evening of Brazilian football at its most dramatic.

The Campeonato Paulista is one of many state championships in Brazil, this one being between clubs based in the Sao Paolo region.

It's the oldest established football league in Brazil's history, which sees 16 teams compete over a three-month period in a group stage and knock-out format.

The locality of the competition stokes the fires of the local rivalries, particularly because four of Brazil's biggest teams all take part - Corinthians, Palmeiras, Santos and Sao Paulo.

Corinthians hold the record for most titles won, with their 2025 triumph making it 31 championships.

But it was a rare moment of trophy joy for the side, as it was their first piece of silverware since winning the same tournament in 2019.

Campeonato Paulista also acts as a warm-up for the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A, which starts at the weekend and where Corinthians' fortunes have been very different.

They finished seventh last season, although with Depay only arriving midway through the campaign, hopes of a challenge at the top will be high as the Dutch star prepares for his first full season in Brazil.