See VIDEO: Epic on-pitch fight culminates in ref sending 12 players off with red cards

A referee in Argentina was forced to send 12 players off after the two football teams completely lost it in the field.

14:58 17 October 2014

A referee in Argentina handed out a record 12 red cards after the rival teams started exchanging punches and karate kicks among each other on the pitch.

The crushing punishment from the ref came after a fairly innocuous challenge quickly escalated into a 22-man brawl in a matter of seconds before the stunned crowd.

With Cipolletti scoring 1-0 at Deportivo Roca' in Group One of the Torneo Federal A, the Argentine third tier defender Marcos Lamolla was booked for a foul on Fernando Fernandez.

The pair scuffled and this sparked a free-for-all as players from both teams started attacking each other before security intervened.

"Both teams' players were disgraceful, they didn't behave like professionals," said Roca coach Diego Landeiro.

"It was a disgrace and it means lots of work down the drain. I'm very bitter."