Argentina face the prospect of disciplinary action from Fifa after their players celebrated the World Cup semi-final win against England with a banner in support of their country's
The report indicates that argentina face the prospect of disciplinary action from FIFA after their players celebrated the World Cup semi-final win against England with a banner in support of their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands.
It further notes that the defending world champions produced a dramatic late comeback in Atlanta, scoring twice to defeat Thomas Tuchel’s side 2-1 and book a showdown with Spain in Sunday’s final.
After the final whistle, Argentina players celebrated while holding a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.
The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.
The two nations went to war over the group of islands, situated 300 miles off Argentina’s east coast, from April to June 1982.
The 74-day conflict led to the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen. Three people from the islands also died.
In 2014, Fifa fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after its players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia.
World football’s governing body stated the gesture had breached rules on political action and team misconduct.
After Wednesday’s victory, Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel posted on X, external, writing “it wasn’t just another match” alongside a video of what appeared to be Argentine soldiers.
“The Falklands are Argentine,” Villarruel posted. “They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”
In the build-up to the game, Villarruel had stated the semi-final was “about putting the invaders in their place”.
MP Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, stated Argentina’s banner was “entirely inappropriate,” adding that he expects Fifa to do a thorough investigation in to the matter.
“I think [an investigation] is certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football,” Kyle told BBC Breakfast.
Argentina players also sang chants which referenced the Falklands and Argentina greats Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi following their dramatic 3-2 win over Egypt in the last 16.
