Breaking: Former Argentina captain Antonio Rattin dies at 89
Antonio Rattin, the former Argentina captain who was sent off against England in the 1966 World Cup quarterfinal, has died at age 89, his former club Boca Juniors announced.
Antonio Rattin, the former captain of the Argentina national team who was sent off against England in the quarterfinal of the 1966 FIFA World Cup, has died at the age of 89, his former club Boca Juniors announced on Saturday.
The announcement of Rattin's death came on the same day that Argentina and England both won their quarterfinal matches in the 2026 World Cup, setting up a fiery semifinal clash next Wednesday.
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Boca Juniors mourned the late Rattin on its social media accounts, saying, "With deep sorrow and grief, we mourn the passing of Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, a symbol of our club." It added, "We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones in this immense loss. Farewell, Rattin." Rattin was born on May 16, 1937, and was a strong-character midfielder who spent his entire playing career with the Buenos Aires club. He played 34 matches for Argentina, including two World Cup appearances in 1962 and 1966. He is still widely remembered outside Argentina for his sending-off in the 1966 Wembley match. After a violent tackle on Englishman Roger Hunt in the 35th minute, Rattin complained to German referee Rudolf Kreitlein that he did not speak German and could not understand him. Kreitlein, who in turn did not speak Spanish, lost patience with Rattin and sent him off for "using foul language." After a several-minute delay, Rattin left the field, tearing up a corner flag of England and sitting on a red carpet reserved for Queen Elizabeth II. He said years later, "When I reached the corner, I twisted the English flag and insulted them." He added, "Then I went to the carpet that the queen used to enter the field and sat there for about five minutes. It was a very beautiful red carpet." The communication problem between Rattin and Kreitlein led to the introduction of red and yellow cards in the 1970 World Cup. Rattin played 382 matches for Boca Juniors, scoring 28 goals, and won four titles: the Argentine league championships in 1962, 1964, and 1965, and the Argentine Cup in 1969. He was also part of the team that finished runner-up in the 1963 Copa Libertadores, Boca's first final in the continental competition, losing to Pelé's Santos of Brazil. After retiring as a player, Rattin coached Boca Juniors in the 1980 season. Rattin was always considered a prominent historical figure at Boca Juniors, and in 2015, a statue of him was unveiled at La Bombonera stadium. After stepping away from football, Rattin entered politics, serving as a national deputy from 2001 to 2005.
Original source: Al-Yaum
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