Several members of the Argentinian national football team are facing calls for sanctions after displaying a banner claiming the Falkland Islands as Argentinian territory following their World Cup victory over England. The players, including star player Lionel Messi, held fingers to their lips before raising a banner that reads "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," the Argentinian name for the Falklands, according to footage and reports.
The incident has drawn condemnation from UK politicians and fans, with some calling for FIFA to ban the players from the final. UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Peter Kyle, stated it was "entirely inappropriate" to wave the banner and contrasted England's dignity with the Argentinian team's actions. Andrew Griffith, a Tory shadow minister, described the display as "idiotic" and "disgusting," questioning why FIFA had not punished the players if they had previously penalized English players for wearing poppies.
FIFA's regulations prohibit political statements and flags in matches. Despite this, Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, and former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso were seen celebrating with the controversial banner. Messi was also observed dancing alongside it after Argentina defeated England 2-1 in Atlanta.
This is not the first time Argentinian players have displayed a banner regarding the Falklands. In 2014, the Argentinian Football Association was fined £20,000 after a similar banner was shown before a friendly. However, authorities are reportedly treating the current incident more seriously due to its occurrence on the World Cup stage and in defiance of FIFA's explicit ban on such displays.
The Falkland Islands, located 300 miles off the coast of Argentina, have been a British Overseas Territory since 1833. A referendum held in 2013 saw 99.8% of islanders vote to remain British. The islands were the site of a ten-week war in 1982 after an Argentinian invasion, which resulted in the deaths of 649 Argentinians and 255 British servicemen.
Argentina's Vice President Victoria Villarruel had previously referred to England as "usurping pirates" in the lead-up to the match, stating that the Falklands were "in our blood and our hearts." The controversy has added a layer of animosity to the long-standing territorial dispute, which has historical roots in football dating back to Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal in the 1986 World Cup.
England's defeat, which came after they held a 1-0 lead with less than six minutes remaining, has also led to criticism of the team's manager, Thomas Tuchel, for tactical decisions made during the match. England's goals came from Anthony Gordon, with Enzo Fernandez equalizing for Argentina and Lautaro Martinez scoring the late winner.
Fans expressed frustration and disappointment with the outcome and the conduct of some Argentinian supporters. Calls have been made on social media for clubs like Manchester United and Tottenham to sanction Romero and Martinez. FIFA has yet to issue an official comment on the incident.