In 1966, an Argentina player was sent off, but there was no way to explain it to him. Since then, there have been yellow and red cards

A confusing incident at the 1966 World Cup, especially Argentina vs England, exposed the need for a clearer referee signal.

FIFA official Kenneth George Aston created the yellow and red card system as a universal way to warn and send off players.

The cards debuted at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and quickly became standard in football worldwide.

The invention turned a communication breakdown into one of the sport’s most recognizable and enduring rules.