Argentina’s players hold a banner reading “The Malvinas (Falkland Islands) belong to Argentina,” after win(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Argentina could face FIFA sanctions after they waved a banner in support of their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands as senior minister Peter Kyle slammed their World Cup semi-final behaviour.
The UK government has this morning urged officials to investigate the “egregious violation of the rules” on political messaging inside stadiums after several Argentine players held up a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” which translated to “The Malvinas (Falkland Islands) belong to Argentina”.
They could face the prospect of disciplinary action from the governing body for violating rules minutes after England were left devastated following the late 2-1 defeat to the South Americans in Atlanta. It took away the Three Lions’ hopes of ending 60 years of World Cup hurt. The match quickly became heated with fights and clashes on the pitch between the two nations.
England flags were burned in Buenos Aires(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Article 34.3 of the tournament’s rules prohibit the display of any political messages or slogans by players before, during or after a match.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our position is unchanged, and self-determination rests with the islanders. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waiver.
“Potential action is a matter for Fifa, it’s been a fantastic World Cup, and we’ve said throughout that politics should stay out of football The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain.
“Thomas Tuchel and his team have taken us deep into the tournament in this World Cup, giving us thrilling matches against teams like Mexico and Norway, that people will never forget.
Players paraded around the pitch carrying the banner after their win against England(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“He thinks the team have represented England wonderfully both on and off the pitch. The Prime Minister is proud of the team.”
The official said any potential action is a “matter for Fifa”, but asked whether the Prime Minister agrees with his Cabinet minister that there should be an investigation, they replied: “I would echo that position.”
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey wants the players who held the ban to be suspended for the final with Spain on Sunday.
“The players who actively held, posed with, and promoted this political banner must be issued an immediate one-match ban, disqualifying them from participating in the final,” he wrote in a letter to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino.
The Union Jack was also torched by Argentina fans (Image: JamPress)
Rowdy Argentina fans during the game(Image: JamPress)
|FIFA has a serious commitment to peace after giving Donald Trump the first FIFA Peace Prize and this is your chance to show it. Football is a game meant to unite the world, Allowing players to use FIFA’s global platform to push aggressive and jingoistic territorial claims entirely undermines the integrity of the sport. We expect FIFA to act swiftly to protect its own regulations and ensure that the integrity of the World Cup Final is preserved.|
Argentina were fined by FIFA after holding up a banner with the same slogan after a friendly against Slovenia in 2014, while the FA was told by FIFA at the 2022 World Cup that Harry Kane would face sporting sanctions starting with a yellow card if he wore a rainbow-coloured `OneLove’ armband at the finals in Qatar, a country which criminalises homosexuality.
It comes as Argentina’s vice president stoked tensions after turning her country’s World Cup win political by claiming the Falklands “are Argentine”. Victoria Villarruel, whose father fought in the Falklands War, posted a picture on X of Argentina players holding up the banner.
Harry Kane and Dan Burn walk after the 2-1 loss as Argentine players celebrate(Image: AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Reposting the photo of the grinning football players following their 2-1 defeat of England, Ms Villarruel wrote: “The Falklands are Argentine! They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”
Ahead of the match Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said he was “not going to mix” politics and football but his players did not get the memo after waving a politically charged flag after the game.
Argentina disputes British sovereignty over the islands and refers to them as Las Malvinas. Political tensions over the territory boiled over into conflict in 1982.
Business Secretary Mr Kyle told the BBC: “My reaction is that it was entirely inappropriate. Politics needs to be separate from football.
“In fact, the World Cup has one of its central tenets that politics is separate from football. That is now a matter for Fifa. I expect Fifa to do its investigation thoroughly.”
He continued: “We expect Fifa to undertake an investigation into this. “I think it was certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the the rules of not having political activity as part of the football.”
Argentina’s vice president Victoria Villarruel has further stoked tensions (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The Falkland Islands were uninhabited and unoccupied until they were first claimed by the British in 1765. In 2013 a referendum was held where islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a UK overseas territory.
This stunt raises questions as FIFA’s stadium code of conduct bans “banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature”. Some Argentine players, following their quarter final win against Switzerland were heard saying: “For the Malvinas, for Diego [Maradona] and for Leo [Messi]’s last one.”
Argentine fans in the stands hold up the ‘Falklands are Argentinian’ banner(Image: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Some Argentina fans were also branded “disgusting” after booing England’s national anthem before their semi-final. England’s national anthem went first but was drowned out by the Argentine contingent in Atlanta, sparking a flurry of angry reaction from social media users.
One user commented: “This (sic) Argentina fans are disgusting singing out loud and booing the England national anthem. Zero respect.”
Prior to the match, coach Scaloni said: “The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago. It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it, that’s the reality.”
Despite these words from the head coach, Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel turned the build up political and said: “This is not just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct – against the English, it’s always something more.”
She added: “Long live Argentina! Because until our very last breath, we will reclaim what is ours.”
The joyous mood after Anthony Gordon put the Three Lions ahead 10 minutes into the second half came crashing down as Enzo Fernandez equalised 85 minutes in. It soured even further when Lautaro Martinez put Argentina in the lead in the 92nd minute.
