Argentina may be sanctioned after displaying a banner about the Falkland Islands following their 2-1 win over England in the semi-final of the ongoing World Cup, Yankee Scores reports.
Some players from the Argentina national team held a banner that read “The Falkland Islands are Argentine” following their 2-1 victory in the semi-final match on Wednesday night.
The Falkland Islands are a UK overseas territory and the islanders voted strongly in favor of remaining as such back in 2013. Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in April 1982, but had to surrender by June of that year. Argentina was fined by FIFA for showing a similar banner in a match against Slovenia in 2014.
Rule 34.3 of the tournament’s regulations forbids players from displaying any political slogans in their matches.
Business Secretary Peter Kyle told “BBC Breakfast” about Argentina players holding the banner “was entirely inappropriate” and “politics needs to be separate from football”, per ESPN.
Kyle added: “We expect FIFA to undertake an investigation into this.
“I think it was certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football.”
The prime minister’s spokesperson said, via Sky News: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falklands definitely are.
“Our position is unchanged, our commitment to the Falklands is unwavering.”
The spokesperson echoed Kyle’s sentiment that it is a matter for FIFA to look into, adding: “The Prime Minister wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain…”
Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch wrote on social media: “The Falkland Islands are British. The Conservatives will always defend them.
Spain players Rodri and Alvaro Morata were banned for one match each by UEFA, European football’s governing body, after singing about their country’s claim to Gibraltar after winning Euro 2024.
Referencing those sanctions, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called for the Argentina players seen holding the banner to be suspended for Sunday’s final against Spain.
Former England international Peter Reid described the Argentina banner display as “beyond the pale.”
