Red card after three seconds! Drama in Brazil as Cruzeiro's Rafa Silva receives one of quickest dismissals in football history during top-flight match

The Brazilian striker left his team one man down on Saturday when he hit Athletico's Kaique Rocha just below his neck with his elbow moments after kick-off. Referee Rodrigo Jose Pereira de Lima subsequently sent off the 32-year-old and Cruzeiro went on to lose the Serie A game 3-0.

His actions will have darkened the mood around eighth-placed Cruzeiro, who missed the chance to climb up the Brazilian top-flight table. Moreover, they are trying to secure a direct berth into the next edition of the Copa Libertadores but results like these won't help. Athletico, on the other hand, rose to 15th in the league to ease their relegation fears.

Former Sheffield United player Keith Gillespie was technically sent off after zero seconds against Reading in January 2007 when he elbowed Stephen Hunt in the face right after coming off the bench. Although 12 seconds passed before the ex-Manchester United man saw red, the referee had not technically restarted the game and the throw-in hadn't been taken.

Silva's Cruzeiro side are next in action on Wednesday night when they take on Lanus in the second leg of their Copa Sudamericana semi-final.