Referee Ken Aston In Action During The Infamous FIFA World Cup™ Match Between Chile And Italy (1962, Chile). Red Card (Tarjeta roja)
One cannot imagine modern football without the yellow and red cards,(tarjetaroja) terms that are now even used in the proverbial sense.
Ken Aston, an Englishman who sadly passed away in October 2001, invented them 35 years ago. He made invaluable contributions to football and the art of refereeing in particular. Teachers must perform many roles in their profession, not just within the confines of the classroom.
In England, where sports have always been an important part of the school curriculum, teachers often take on the role of the referee. Kenneth George Aston did just that in Essex in 1935. FIFA’s decision left Aston unenthusiastic, as the match was anticipated to be volatile. It is probably fair to say that his pupils were more disciplined than the players at the FIFA World Cup™ in Chile (1962) or in England (1966).”
Defining moments Red Card (Tarjeta roja)
Aston thoroughly enjoyed his time in the middle, and in 1936, he became a qualified referee. According to his obituary in the London daily newspaper The Times, by the start of the 1960s, Aston had worked his way up the referees’ ladder and was undoubtedly one of the top officials in the country. His work was seldom tainted by controversy. However, that was to change dramatically at the 1962 FIFA World Cup™ in Chile.
Aston was honored to referee the opening game between the host nation and Switzerland (3-1), a match that he controlled impeccably. Impressed by his performance, FIFA decided to replace the original referee for the match between Chile and Italy with Aston, as they saw the Englishman as an experienced and reliable figure. Aston himself was not exactly thrilled by FIFA’s decision, as the match was expected to be volatile.
Chilean newspapers claimed that Italian journalists had written articles that questioned the beauty and morals of Chilean women. The emotionally charged game had now become a matter of honor, and the football itself was only a secondary issue in the now infamous “Battle of Santiago.” “I wasn’t refereeing a football match, I was acting as an umpire in military maneuvers,” he remarked in later years.
He was no stranger to conflict, having served in the Second World War as a lieutenant colonel in Asia. But the nature of the game in Santiago merely confirmed everybody’s worst fears. Armed police had to enter the field of play on three separate occasions to help the referee restore order. Aston sent off two Italian players and had to break up several scuffles and fights on the pitch. The host nation eventually ran out 2-0 winners. In 1963, Aston refereed the FA Cup Final and subsequently retired from officiating matches.
In 1966, the hosts England played against Argentina in the quarter-final at Wembley.Ken Aston had to use all of his diplomacy and powers of persuasion to calm down the Argentine captain Rattín after his sending-off and prevent the match from being abandoned. Three years later, FIFA invited him to join their Referees’ Committee, which he chaired from 1970 to 1972. His new role at FIFA would see Aston involved yet again in one of the most controversial moments in FIFA World Cup™ history.
The controversial match gained more attention when newspaper reports claimed that the referee had booked both Charlton brothers, Bobby and Jack. However, the referee had not publicly indicated this, leading England manager Alf Ramsey to seek clarification from FIFA. This incident sparked a train of thought in Aston’s mind, prompting him to contemplate ways to prevent such issues in the future. “As I drove down Kensington High Street, the traffic light turned red. I thought, ‘Yellow, take it easy; red, stop, you’re off’.”
Yellow and red cards were introduced at the 1970 FIFA World Cup™ in Mexico, and have since become an integral part of the game. However, it would be unfair to limit Mr. Aston’s influence on refereeing and football to just his famous brainwave. Aston was a natural teacher and spent most of his career at Newbury Park County Primary School in Essex.
He was an instructor for FIFA and other organizations, through which he passed on his knowledge and experience over the years. He was a respected authority on the Laws of the Game and even appeared in court to advise on whether two players had their careers ended prematurely by reckless tackles. Football remained his life. “I know I’m a bloody old fool,” he once said when admitting that football was still in his blood.
Between 1980 and 2001, Aston conducted numerous referees’ courses in the USA, and he was delighted to see that he had made a significant contribution to the game in America. As a direct result of his efforts in the USA, Aston was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 1997. However, he did not approach football or refereeing in the style of a headmaster determined to instill discipline. “”The game should be a two-act play with 22 players on stage and the referee as director. There is no script, no plot, you don’t know the ending, but the idea is to provide enjoyment.”
Aston passed away on October 23, 2001, at the age of 86. But with his “invention,” he has ensured that the villains in today’s game are identified and punished