Buenos Aires (Argentina) (AFP) – Former Argentina captain Antonio Rattin, who was sent off in the 1966 World Cup quarter-final against England, died on Saturday at the age of 89, his club Boca Juniors confirmed.
Issued on: 12/07/2026 - 19:46Modified: 12/07/2026 - 20:26
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Antonio Rattin (R), talking here in 2009 to then-CONMEBOL president Nicolaz Leoz, made 382 appearances for Boca Juniors between 1956 and 1970 © NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP/File
His death was announced on the day Argentina and England won their World Cup quarter-finals to set up a semi-final between the two old rivals next Wednesday. "With deep sorrow, we regret the passing of Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, an idol and emblem of our institution," Boca announced on social media. "We stand with his family and loved ones in this difficult moment. Farewell 'Rata'." Born on May 16, 1937, Rattin was a central midfielder with a strong personality who spent his entire career with the Buenos Aires club. He also played 34 times for Argentina, including both the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. It is for his dismissal in 1966 at Wembley he is widely remembered outside Argentina. When he was booked in the 35th minute after a nasty challenge on England's Roger Hunt, he complained to the German referee Rudolf Kreitlein that he did not speak German and could not understand him.Kreitlein, who could not speak Spanish, lost patience with Rattin and sent him off for "violence of the tongue".After several minutes' delay, he eventually made his way off the field, only to crumple an England corner flag and sit on a red carpet reserved for Queen Elizabeth II."When I got to the corner, I twisted the English flag and insulted them," he said years later.
