Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA following their World Cup semi-final victory over England. After securing a spot in the final, players displayed a banner proclaiming “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” which translates to “The Falklands are Argentine.” This action has drawn criticism and calls for investigation from UK officials.
The incident occurred in Atlanta after Argentina’s dramatic comeback win against England, where they scored two late goals to secure a 2-1 victory. The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory, have long been the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina.
UK calls for FIFA investigation
Following the banner display, Downing Street supported calls for FIFA to investigate the matter. A spokesperson for the prime minister stated that while the World Cup might not belong to the UK, the Falkland Islands certainly do, affirming the UK’s commitment to the territory.
The 1982 conflict over the islands, located off Argentina’s east coast, lasted for 74 days and resulted in significant casualties for both Argentine and British servicemen, as well as island residents. Leandro Paredes, an Argentina midfielder, described the Falklands War as a “sad part of our history” and indicated that the semi-final match held deeper significance for his country.
Argentina’s vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, also commented on the victory, posting on social media that it was “not just another match” and asserting that the Falklands are Argentine. She had previously stated in the lead-up to the game that the semi-final was about “putting the invaders in their place.”
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, called the banner “entirely inappropriate” and anticipated a thorough FIFA investigation, citing it as an egregious violation of rules against political activity in football.
Precedents for disciplinary action
FIFA has previously taken disciplinary action for similar political gestures. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 after players displayed a banner with the same message before a friendly match. FIFA deemed this a breach of rules concerning political action and team misconduct.
The governing body typically addresses such breaches in the weeks following a tournament. However, some suggest this situation could be treated more seriously given it occurred during a World Cup match between the two nations involved in the dispute. Despite this, there is no indication that Argentina would lose its place in the final.
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has called for the suspension of the Argentina players involved for the upcoming final against Spain. He referenced a precedent where UEFA banned Spain players Alvaro Morata and Rodri for one game after they chanted “Gibraltar is Spanish” during Euro 2024 celebrations. Gibraltar is another territory with a sovereignty dispute involving the UK and Spain.
Another instance involved South Korea midfielder Park Jong-woo, who received a two-match suspension from FIFA after displaying a sign about the Dokdo islands following the 2012 Olympic Games bronze medal match. This meant he missed two World Cup qualifiers.
In the build-up to the semi-final, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had stated his intention not to mix football with politics, acknowledging the Falklands War as a “very sad period” in history. He emphasized that the match was a football game and should not be confused with historical events.
The semi-final, which England lost to late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, was held under increased security measures due to the historical tensions between the two countries.
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Source: bbc.com
