The UK government has strongly condemned the Argentinian football team for displaying a banner claiming the Falkland Islands as Argentinian territory during their World Cup semi-final victory celebrations. A No. 10 spokesman stated, "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are," in response to the incident.
Following Argentina's 2-1 win against England in Atlanta, players unfurled a white sheet bearing the words "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," which translates to "The Falklands are Argentina's." Among those seen with the banner were Tottenham's Cristian Romero, Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez, and former Tottenham player Giovani Lo Celso, with Lionel Messi observed nearby.
This action has prompted calls for disciplinary action from FIFA, including fines or bans from the upcoming final. Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch declared, "The Falkland Islands are British. They will always be British. The Conservatives fought for them before; we will do so again if necessary." Business Secretary Peter Kyle also described the display as an "egregious violation of the rules."
Falklands veterans have urged the Argentinian players to consider the history of the 1982 invasion, which resulted in 907 lives lost. Simon Weston, a veteran who sustained severe facial burns during the conflict, suggested the players should be aware of the consequences of such actions. "The last time they got fined was £20,000 by Fifa, but Lionel Messi could spend that on breakfast," Weston commented, drawing a comparison to a past incident involving Spanish players and Gibraltar. He added, "We have to be protective of the islanders."
Andrew Griffith, Tory Shadow Business Secretary, called the display "disgusting and an insult to the Falkland Islanders." Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey also urged FIFA to consider barring the players from the final, citing a precedent where Spanish players were suspended for chanting about Gibraltar. FIFA is reportedly assessing match reports and considering relevant circumstances before deciding on further steps. Article 34.3 of tournament rules prohibits the display of political messages.
Argentina's Vice President Victoria Villarruel shared footage of soldiers invading the Falklands after the victory, writing, "The Falklands are Argentine." Meanwhile, SAS veteran Robin Horsdall suggested Argentinian players should learn about the history of dictator Leopoldo Galtieri's regime and the "thousands of people murdered and 'disappeared' by Galtieri's government." He stated that the 1982 war ultimately resulted in Argentina gaining democracy for the first time in a generation.
Historically, Argentina's claim to the Falkland Islands dates back to brief settlements between 1826 and 1833, despite England establishing a presence in 1690 and exercising control since 1833. In a 2013 referendum, 99.8 percent of Falkland Islanders voted to remain a British Overseas Territory. The Falkland Islands government described the banner as "particularly insensitive for many in the Falklands."