Argentine Antonio Ratt铆n, a former Boca Juniors player whose act of defiance while representing at the 1966 World Cup helped lead to the introduction of yellow and red cards, has died, the country鈥檚 football federation said Saturday. He was 84.
Ratt铆n died in Buenos Aires, according to the Argentine Football Association, or AFA, which expressed its 鈥渄eepest sorrow at the passing of a historic symbol of Boca Juniors and the national team,鈥� with whom he played in two World Cups.
A defensive midfielder known for his physical, hard-tackling style, Ratt铆n won six Argentine league titles with Boca Juniors and was a Copa Libertadores runner-up in 1963.
鈥淩att铆n was one of us and loved these colours so much that they were the only ones he chose to defend throughout his 14-year career. A leader, an Argentine and forever a Bostero,鈥� the club said.
With Argentina, Ratt铆n played at the 1962 World Cup in Chile and the , and also finished runner-up in the Copa Am茅rica twice.
In the quarterfinals of the 1966 World Cup, Argentina faced England at Wembley Stadium. In the 36th minute, Ratt铆n protested a foul and was sent off for 鈥渧erbal dissent.鈥� At the time, referees did not use cards but instead verbally informed players that they had been dismissed.
As he left the pitch, Ratt铆n crumpled one of the corner flags, which featured the design of the English flag. He then sat down on the red carpet reserved for .
The two acts of protest sparked a barrage of objects thrown at him by fans from the stands.
In the wake of the confusing incident, and amid growing concern over the increasingly violent nature of the game, FIFA鈥檚 refereeing authorities concluded that a practical, universally understood system was needed to communicate cautions and dismissals.
Kenneth George Aston, who headed FIFA鈥檚 refereeing committee, took inspiration from traffic lights and, in 1967, introduced the yellow and red cards that are still used today.
Ratt铆n鈥檚 defiant gesture at Wembley also marked the beginning of the football rivalry between Argentina and England. It reached its most iconic chapter in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Argentina won thanks to unforgettable goals 鈥� one scored with his hand, unnoticed by the referee, and the other after a brilliant solo run.
Argentina plays Switzerland in another World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. Many supporters are hoping for a semifinal meeting with England, who will face Norway in another quarter-final also on Saturday.
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