Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, revered as one of Argentina’s finest midfielders and a catalyst for the introduction of red and yellow cards in football, has died at 89, Boca Juniors announced. The club paid tribute to a beloved icon and expressed condolences to his family.
Rattin represented Argentina at the 1962 and 1966 World Cups, but it was his controversial sending-off in the 1966 quarter-final against England—who won 1-0—that resonated most internationally. He initially refused to leave the field, saying he couldn’t understand German referee Rudolf Kreitlein, who did not speak Spanish. As he departed, he twisted an England corner flag and sat on the red carpet reserved for Queen Elizabeth II in protest, later recalling that he did it deliberately and lingered there for several minutes. To prevent such communication breakdowns, Fifa introduced the yellow and red card system for the 1970 World Cup.
A one-club man, Rattin played his entire career for Boca Juniors from 1956 to 1970, making 382 appearances, scoring 28 goals, winning four league titles, and reaching the 1963 Copa Libertadores final. He earned caps for Argentina between 1959 and 1969. After retiring, he briefly coached Boca before moving into politics.