The White House has defended the Argentinian football team's right to free speech after they controversially waved a banner in support of their country's territorial claim to the F
The report indicates that the White House has defended the Argentinian football team’s right to free speech after they controversially waved a banner in support of their country’s territorial claim to the Falkland Islands while celebrating their World Cup win against England.
It further notes that argentina face potential disciplinary action from Fifa over the incident which could breach rules on political statements.
Asked whether players were in the wrong, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House Fifa task force, stated on Friday that the team had the opportunity and ability to “make those statements” in the US.
The comments could further fuel the row over the incident, which has seen Downing Street back calls for Fifa to investigate.
The Falklands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remains the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina.
Players for Argentina held a banner after Wednesday’s semi-final match reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Giuliani referenced free speech protections in the US Constitution, saying: “We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America.”
Downing Street backed calls for Fifa to investigate the incident, with the prime minister’s official spokesperson saying: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.”
No 10 added that any potential action against Argentina players who unveiled the banner was “a matter for Fifa”, but echoed the view of Business Secretary Peter Kyle that world football’s governing body should investigate.
For its part, the government of the Falkland Islands stated it was “disappointed but not surprised” about the banner and it hopes Fifa will “sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules”.
“We do not wish to see politics being brought into sport” a statement added.
“Nor do we wish the Islands and their people to be used as a political football in every conversation about England and Argentina”.
In 2013, the people of the Falkland Islands voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory.
Of 1,517 votes cast in the two-day referendum – on a turnout of more than 90% – 1,513 were in favour, while just three votes were against.
