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Football Loses Rattin: The Man Behind Red & Yellow Cards
12 Jul
Summary
- Antonio Rattin, famed midfielder and initiator of card system, died.
- He played in two World Cups, noted for his controversial 1966 dismissal.
- Rattin's protest led FIFA to introduce red and yellow cards in 1970.
Former Argentine football star Antonio Rattin, celebrated as one of the nation's greatest midfielders, has died at the age of 89. His former club, Boca Juniors, announced his passing, remembering him as an idol and symbol of the institution.
Rattin represented Argentina in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. His career highlight, or perhaps infamous moment, occurred during the 1966 tournament when he was controversially dismissed in a quarter-final match against England. Rattin famously refused to leave the pitch, citing a language barrier with the German referee.
His protest, which included sitting on a royal carpet and crumpling a corner flag, had a lasting impact on the sport. Following this incident, FIFA introduced the red and yellow card system at the 1970 World Cup to prevent similar communication issues between referees and players from different nations.
Rattin spent his entire playing career with Boca Juniors, from 1956 to 1970, making 382 appearances and scoring 28 goals. He also achieved success with the club, winning four league titles and reaching the Copa Libertadores final in 1963. After retiring, he briefly coached Boca Juniors before entering politics.
