Aston, Kenneth George

▪ 2002

      British association football (soccer) referee (b. Sept. 1, 1915, Colchester, Essex, Eng.—d. Oct. 23, 2001, Ilford, Essex), invented the yellow (caution) and red (ejection) disciplinary cards, which were first employed during play at the 1970 World Cup finals and were quickly introduced around the world. Aston qualified as a referee in 1936. In 1962, having worked successfully for the Football Association in England, he was invited to officiate at the World Cup finals in Chile. He replaced the designated referee for the contentious first-round game between Chile and Italy, but the players resisted all attempts to control violent play, and the match deteriorated into a brawl that came to be known as “the Battle of Santiago.” Although he never officiated another World Cup match, Aston supervised all officials at the 1966 and 1970 World Cups. In 1970 he introduced the red and yellow cards (inspired, he said, by the colours used in traffic lights) to help referees clarify disciplinary actions on the field. He was made MBE in 1997.

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