Former Argentina captain, Antonio Rattin has died at the age of 89, his longtime club, Boca Juniors, confirmed on Saturday.

The club announced Rattin’s death in a statement on social media, describing him as an icon and one of the institution’s enduring symbols while extending condolences to his family.

Born on May 16, 1937, Rattin spent his entire playing career at Boca Juniors, where he established himself as one of the club’s most influential midfielders. He made 382 appearances, scored 28 goals and helped the club win four major domestic titles, including league championships in 1962, 1964 and 1965, as well as the 1969 Copa Argentina.

Rattin also represented Argentina 34 times and featured at the 1962 and 1966 FIFA World Cups.

Outside Argentina, he is best remembered for his controversial dismissal during the 1966 World Cup quarter-final against England at Wembley Stadium.

After receiving a booking for a challenge on Roger Hunt, Rattin protested to German referee Rudolf Kreitlein, saying he could not understand him because they did not share a common language. Kreitlein subsequently sent him off, reportedly for what was described as “violence of the tongue.”

Rattin delayed leaving the pitch before crumpling an England corner flag and sitting briefly on a red carpet reserved for Queen Elizabeth II, an incident that became one of the defining moments of the tournament.

The communication difficulties surrounding the incident later contributed to the introduction of the red and yellow card system at the 1970 FIFA World Cup.

During his career, Rattin was also part of the Boca Juniors squad that finished runners-up in the 1963 Copa Libertadores, losing the final to Santos FC, led by Pelé.

Following his retirement, Rattin managed Boca Juniors during the 1980 season and remained closely associated with the club. In 2015, Boca honoured him with the unveiling of a statue at La Bombonera Stadium in recognition of his contribution to the club’s history.

Beyond football, Rattin served as a national deputy in Argentina between 2001 and 2005 after entering politics.