Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, Argentine Football Legend Known for 1966 World Cup Protest, Dies at 89

Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, a legendary figure in Argentine football and former captain of the national team, passed away at the age of 89. Rattin, who spent most of his career at Boca Juniors, is widely remembered for a pivotal moment in football history: his expulsion from the 1966 World Cup quarter-final against England.

The incident occurred at Wembley Stadium when German referee Rudolf Kreitlein sent Rattin off in the first half. In an era before yellow and red cards, Rattin, protesting the referee's perceived bias towards England, demanded an interpreter. After his expulsion, he famously sat on the red carpet of the royal box for five minutes in protest before leaving the field.

During a 2016 interview, Rattin recalled the match, stating, "I saw that this German gentleman was calling everything in favor of England. Faced with that, I showed him the captain's armband and for several minutes I asked for an interpreter to explain his conduct."

The controversial expulsion and the ensuing confusion are credited with prompting the development of the now-standardized yellow and red card system, designed by English referee Ken Aston. The match itself ended with a 1-0 victory for England, a result that eliminated Argentina and led England's manager, Alf Ramsey, to controversially label the Argentine team as "animals."