16 people lost their lives on Tuesday in a 'friendly' prison match between two rival cartels in Mexico, according to the Daily Mail.

The game was taking place at the Cieneguillas jail in the northern state of Zacatecas between the Gulf and Zetas Cartels.

But it all kicked off when a dirty tackle sparked a riot inside the box. This led to firearms, including barrelled weapons, being drawn on the pitch.

At least 20 ambulances arrived to treat the wounded.

It emerged that 15 people died at the scene while a 16th lost his life on the way to hospital.

Family members were allowed to visit the prison and watch the game, given that it was the final day of the year.

They watched on in horror as the events unfolded and were quickly rushed out of the fight.

The federal forces and the National Guard were mobilised to the prison but it took them more than three hours to gain control of the situation.

Four firearms were confiscated in the aftermath, Secretary of Public Security Ismael Camberos Hernández said afterwards.

The events unfolded despite there being a search for contraband and weapons the day prior.

Hernández said Monday's search uncovered: "Seventy-seven bags of marijuana, 18 packages of rice paper, 17 knives, a saw, a 9mm cartridge, three pairs of scissors, nine phones, phone chargers, a phone battery, a memory disk, two hammers, a bottle of liquor and a can of beer jug."

But, unfortunately, they weren't able to confiscate the four firearms that were used in the fight.

Security will be boosted at prisons in the state, the government said after the violence, per the Mirror.