Antonio Rattin, Argentina midfielder whose 1966 red card brought in yellow and red cards, dies at 89

Antonio Rattin, the Argentine midfielder who spent his entire club career at Boca Juniors, has died aged 89. His passing was announced by the Buenos Aires club on the afternoon of Saturday 11 July 2026, prompting tributes to a figure whose most famous moment came not in a triumph but in a furious walk-off that reshaped the sport.

A career at Boca Juniors

Rattin made between 353 and 382 appearances for Boca Juniors between 1956 and 1970, scoring 28 goals and winning four Argentine league titles plus one national cup. He helped the club reach the 1963 Copa Libertadores final. At international level, he earned 34 caps for Argentina between 1959 and 1969, captaining the side at the 1966 World Cup. Boca Juniors said on social media: "With great sorrow, we mourn the passing of Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, an idol and symbol of our institution. We stand with his family and loved ones at this difficult time. Farewell, Rata."

The 1966 World Cup quarter-final

On 23 July 1966, Argentina faced hosts England in the quarter-finals at Wembley. The match, won 1-0 by England, is remembered for the chaos surrounding Rattin's dismissal. German referee Rudolf Kreitlein had already given him two verbal warnings when the Argentine insulted him again. Kreitlein sent him off, but Rattin refused to leave, arguing he could not understand the German-speaking official. English police were eventually called to escort him from the pitch.

The red-card protest

As he walked, Rattin crumpled an England corner flag and then sat on the red carpet reserved for Queen Elizabeth II. He later described the scene with a mix of defiance and glee.

When I got to the corner, I twisted the English flag and insulted them. Then I went over to the carpet the Queen used to enter the stadium and sat there for about five minutes. It was a very nice red carpet.

The episode prompted FIFA to overhaul communication between referees and players. Two years later, the governing body approved the red and yellow card system, used for the first time at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. The cards were designed to bridge language gaps and make disciplinary decisions unmistakable.

Life after football

After retiring in 1970, Rattin briefly coached Boca Juniors before moving into politics. His legacy remains tied to the moment that forced football's lawmakers to introduce a visual language every player could understand.