Boca Juniors icon passes away
Boca Juniors have announced the death of their former midfielder Antonio Rattin at the age of 89, describing him as "an idol and symbol of our institution."
Rattin spent his entire club career with the Argentine giants, making 382 appearances between 1956 and 1970, scoring 28 goals and winning four league titles. He also helped the club reach the 1963 Copa Libertadores final.
The 1966 World Cup and a moment that changed football
Rattin earned 32 caps for Argentina, captaining his country at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England. It was there that his controversial sending-off against the host nation in the quarter-final would alter the sport's history.
German referee Rudolf Kreitlein dismissed Rattin in the 35th minute at Wembley, but the midfielder refused to leave the pitch, claiming he did not understand the decision. The referee spoke no Spanish, and the situation descended into chaos.
As he eventually walked off, Rattin crumpled an England corner flag and sat on the red carpet reserved for Queen Elizabeth II. Years later, he recalled:
"When I got to the corner, I twisted the English flag and insulted them. Then I went over to the carpet the Queen used to enter the stadium and sat there for about five minutes. It was a very nice red carpet."
The incident prompted FIFA to introduce the yellow and red card system at the following World Cup in 1970, ensuring clearer communication between referees and players from different nations.
Life after football
After retiring, Rattin had a brief stint as Boca Juniors' coach before entering politics. He remained a revered figure in Argentine football.
