The Argentina national team sported black armbands during their World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Switzerland on 12/7. This gesture honored Antonio Rattin, a former captain of the national team, who passed away at the age of 89 due to a stroke before the match.

Following the news of Rattin's passing, the Argentine Football Association requested and received permission from FIFA for the players to wear the armbands as a mark of respect during the crucial quarter-final game.

Former Boca Juniors player, Antonio Rattin, passed away at the age of 89. Photo: @SC_ESPN

Rattin was a legendary figure for Boca Juniors, playing for the Buenos Aires club for 14 years and never representing another team. Beyond his club career, his most significant legacy stems from an incident at the 1966 World Cup, which indirectly led to a major rule change in football.

During the 1966 World Cup quarter-final match against host England, Rattin and coach Juan Carlos Lorenzo devised a plan. They agreed that Rattin, as captain, would request an interpreter if he felt referee Rudolf Kreitlein was officiating the game unfairly.

"My coach told me that if the referee performed poorly, I should ask for an interpreter because as captain, the rules protected me," Rattin recounted in a 2013 interview. "I made that request, and then he sent me off." The incident sparked considerable controversy because the German referee did not speak Spanish, and Rattin did not speak German. Despite the language barrier, Rattin was expelled from the game. He famously refused to leave the field for several minutes, arguing he did not understand the referee's decision.

Argentina players during halftime of their quarter-final match against Switzerland, on 12/7. Photo: Reuters

This contentious event highlighted to FIFA the potential for misunderstandings caused by language barriers on the field. In response, the organization subsequently developed the yellow card system for cautions and the red card system for expulsions. This revolutionary system was first implemented at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and has remained a fundamental part of football rules ever since.

After retiring from his illustrious football career, Rattin entered politics. From 2001 to 2005, he served as a Member of Parliament in the Chamber of Deputies, achieving the distinction of becoming the first former professional footballer elected to Argentina's legislative body.

Nhat Minh (According to USA Today)