This Day in History: 2023-03-21

Nr. 429

RATTIN’S RANT ROW (1966)

England’s quarter-final dash with Argentina in the 1966 World Cup took on the flavour of a diplomatic incident when Argentina’s captain Antonio Rattin was banished from the pitch ten minutes before the end of the first half. German referee Rudolf Kretlein cited «violence of the tongue» as the reason for the dismissal, following a sustained haranguing by Rattin who was demanding explanations for decisions, despite the fact that neither man understood a word the other was saying. England manager Alf Ramsey was so disgusted with the spectacle he refused to allow his players to swap shirts and branded the Argentinians «animals».

Antonio Rattin gets his marching orders from Rudolf Kretlein after strongly disputing a decision that had gone against his side.