Argentina Inspired Soccer's Card System

Argentina became the catalyst for soccer's yellow and red card system during the 1966 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against England at Wembley. West German referee Rudolf Kreitlein expelled Argentine captain Antonio Rattin after a second caution, but Rattin initially refused to leave amid language problems and eventually left the field escorted by police. After the confusion, former English referee and FIFA referee committee head Ken Aston proposed universally understood yellow cards for cautions and red cards for expulsions. FIFA introduced the system at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

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