A fan identified as Santiago successfully smuggled a banner with the message "Las Malvinas son Argentinas"—meaning "The Falklands are Argentinian"—into a World Cup stadium by concealing it within his underwear.
The banner, referencing the long-standing territorial dispute between Argentina and Great Britain over the South Atlantic islands, was reportedly made from a hotel bedsheet and painted black. Santiago told Argentina's Todo Noticias that he folded the banner to fit it into his crotch to get past security.
The controversy surrounding the banner emerged during the FIFA World Cup semifinals, where Argentina faced England. The dispute over the Falkland Islands, known as Las Malvinas in Argentina, led to a brief war between the two nations in 1982.
Following the match, the banner was unfurled by Argentine players. Reports indicate that the players were unaware of how the banner had been smuggled into the stadium. In the United Kingdom, the banner was met with disapproval. Ed Davey, leader of the UK Liberal Democrats, reportedly called for the players involved to be banned from the subsequent World Cup final.