Argentina could face a fine from FIFA after its players displayed a banner asserting their nation's claim to the Falkland Islands following a World Cup semi-final victory against England. The defending champions secured their place in the final after a late comeback to win the match 2-1.
Following the game, players were photographed holding a banner that read "Las Malvinas son Argentinas," which translates to "The Falklands are Argentine." This display occurred after Argentina's dramatic win, which set them up for a final match against Spain.
The Falkland Islands, known as the Malvinas in Argentina, were the subject of a conflict between the two nations from April to June 1982. The war resulted in the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, along with three island residents.
This is not the first instance of Argentine players facing sanctions for displaying similar messages. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 by FIFA when players held a banner with the identical slogan before a friendly match against Slovenia. At that time, FIFA stated the gesture violated regulations concerning political actions and team misconduct.