Former Argentine footballer Antonio Rattín, who inspired red and yellow cards, dies at 89

Antonio Rattín, a legendary figure in Argentine football and an icon of Boca Juniors, has passed away at the age of 89. His death was announced by his former club, which remembered him as an "idol and figurehead."

Rattín, a defensive midfielder, had a distinguished career, playing his entire professional life for Boca Juniors and earning 34 caps for the Argentine national team. He captained Argentina during the 1966 World Cup in England, a tournament where he became central to a historic incident.

During a contentious quarterfinal match against host nation England, Rattín was sent off by German referee Rudolf Kreitlein after receiving two verbal warnings. Rattín famously refused to leave the field for several minutes, requiring police intervention. In a final act of defiance, he crumpled an English flag as he departed.

This dramatic confrontation directly influenced FIFA's decision to implement red and yellow cards as a means of officially cautioning and ejecting players, a system that remains fundamental to the sport today. Rattín died in Buenos Aires, though the cause of his death has not been disclosed.

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With great sadness, we regret the passing of Antonio Ubaldo Rattín, idol and figurehead of our club. Farewell, Rata.