Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA after their players celebrated Wednesday’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England by displaying a banner supporting the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.
The reigning world champions came from behind in Atlanta with late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez to book a place in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain.
However, their post-match celebrations may now attract the attention of football’s governing body after players held up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”).
Political message under scrutiny
The Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a long-running sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.
The two countries fought a 74-day war over the islands between April and June 1982. The conflict claimed the lives of 655 Argentine military personnel, 255 British servicemen and three civilians from the islands.
FIFA has previously sanctioned Argentina over a similar incident. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 after players displayed the same message before an international friendly against Slovenia.
At the time, FIFA ruled that the display breached its regulations on political messages and team misconduct.
Vice-president backs players
Following Wednesday’s victory, Argentina vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, posted on X, describing the match as more than just football.
“The Falklands are Argentine. They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts,” Villarruel wrote.
Before the semi-final, Villarruel had also described the encounter as being “about putting the invaders in their place.”
Argentina players had earlier sung chants referencing the Falklands, as well as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, after their dramatic 3-2 victory over Egypt in the Round of 16.
Scaloni distances football from politics
Despite the celebrations, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had insisted before the match that football should not be mixed with politics.
“The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago,” Scaloni said.
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“It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it; that’s the reality.
“Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match – we shouldn’t confuse the two.”
Increased security
The World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina was staged under heightened security because of the historical tensions between the two nations.
Argentina’s comeback victory secured a place in Sunday’s final against Spain, while England will face France in the third-place play-off.
