Former Argentina captain Antonio Rattín dies at 89

Antonio Rattín, the legendary Argentine footballer whose dramatic sending-off at the 1966 World Cup directly led to the creation of the yellow and red card system, has died. He was 89. His death was confirmed on Saturday, July 11, 2026, by his lifelong club, Boca Juniors, and the Argentine Football Association.

Rattín, a formidable defensive midfielder, spent his entire 14-year professional career with Boca Juniors, making 382 appearances and scoring 28 goals. He won multiple Argentine league titles with the club and helped them reach the 1963 Copa Libertadores final. He also earned 34 caps for Argentina, captaining the national team and playing in both the 1962 and 1966 FIFA World Cups.

He is most famously remembered for his role in a pivotal moment during the 1966 World Cup quarterfinal against host nation England at Wembley Stadium. After a foul in the 35th minute, German referee Rudolf Kreitlein sent Rattín off for verbal dissent. A significant language barrier existed, as the referee did not speak Spanish and Rattín did not speak German. Rattín refused to leave the pitch immediately, protesting that he did not understand the decision.

His eventual exit became an iconic act...