Argentina took the field wearing black armbands against Switzerland on Saturday to honor former captain Antonio Rattin, one of the country’s most influential footballers. Antonio Rattin passed away at the age of 89 on July 11 following a suspected stroke, according to his family.
Rattin captained Argentina at the 1966 FIFA World Cup and remains one of the country’s most recognizable football figures.
Rattin captained Argentina at the 1966 FIFA World Cup and remains one of the country’s most recognizable football figures. He earned 34 international caps between 1959 and 1968 and represented Argentina at the 1962 and 1966 World Cups.
He also featured in multiple South American Championships, now known as the Copa América.
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A Boca Juniors icon and Argentina captain
Rattin was born in Buenos Aires in 1937. He played with Boca Juniors for almost his whole professional career. Between 1956 and 1970, the defensive midfielder played in almost 350 league games for the team. He assisted Boca in winning the Nacional Championship in 1969 as well as league titles in 1962, 1964, and 1965.
Boca Juniors said, “With great sorrow, we mourn the passing of Antonio Ubaldo Rattin, an idol and symbol of our institution. We stand with his family and loved ones at this difficult time. Farewell, Rata.”
Nicknamed “El Rata,” Rattin became known for his leadership, composure and physical presence in midfield. Reuters stated that Rattin was admired for reading the game and shielding the defense, qualities that made him a natural captain for both club and country.
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The 1966 World Cup incident that defined his career
Although Rattin enjoyed a distinguished career, he is perhaps best remembered globally for the controversial quarterfinal between Argentina and England at the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
During the match at Wembley Stadium, German referee Rudolf Kreitlein sent Rattin off in the 35th minute. The referee later said he dismissed the Argentine captain because of his attitude, even though the two could not communicate due to a language barrier. The decision sparked one of the tournament’s biggest controversies.
Rattin refused to leave the field for several minutes and sat briefly on the red carpet reserved for members of the British royal family.
“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,” Rattin said many years later in an interview.
In order to prevent communication issues between referees and players from various nations, FIFA implemented the yellow and red card system during the 1970 World Cup.
Rattin briefly served as Boca’s coach after retiring as a player before entering politics.
