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Boca Legend Antonio Rattin Dies, Inspired FIFA Card System

7/12/2026

Summary

Rattin Dies

Antonio Ubaldo Rattin died at age 89 on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
He played 382 matches for Boca Juniors (1956-1970), netting 28 goals and winning league titles.
In the 1966 quarter-final, he was sent off, refused to leave and sat on the red carpet, leading FIFA to adopt yellow and red cards for 1970.
Rattin later coached Boca in 1980 and served in Argentina’s lower house for a centre-right party.

Summary

Argentina eyeing England

Argentina will face Switzerland on Saturday in the 2026 World Cup knockout round.
Argentine supporters hope the win will set up a semifinal against England.
England must defeat Norway in its quarter-final for an Argentina-England showdown to be possible.
Rattín’s death reminded fans of the Argentina-England rivalry that began with his 1966 protest.
The Argentine Football Association called Rattín a historic symbol as the team readies for the knockout round.

Summary

Rattín Sparks Reform

Boca Juniors announced the death of former captain Antonio Rattín, calling him an idol.
In the 1966 World Cup quarter-final, referee Rudolf Kreitlein sent Rattín off, after which he waited for an interpreter.
Rattín’s protest included crumpling a British flag on the corner and briefly sitting on the Queen’s red carpet.
The incident led FIFA referees chief Ken Aston to create the traffic-light card system introduced in 1970.

History

Historical Context

In the 1966 World Cup quarter-final, England beat Argentina 1-0 after referee Rudolf Kreitlein sent captain Antonio Rattín off, sparking a diplomatic row. The incident prompted referee supervisor Ken Aston to devise the yellow-and-red traffic-light card system, first used at the 1970 World Cup. The episode underpins the Argentine Football Association’s tribute as the 2026 squad readies for a knockout match against Switzerland.

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Rattin Dies

Antonio Ubaldo Rattin died at age 89 on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
He played 382 matches for Boca Juniors (1956-1970), netting 28 goals and winning league titles.
In the 1966 quarter-final, he was sent off, refused to leave and sat on the red carpet, leading FIFA to adopt yellow and red cards for 1970.
Rattin later coached Boca in 1980 and served in Argentina’s lower house for a centre-right party.

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