Argentina faces potential fine after displaying Falklands banner following World Cup semi-final win
Argentina could face a fine from Fifa after players displayed a banner supporting their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands following their World Cup semi-final victory against England. The banner, which read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (The Falklands are Argentine), was shown after Argentina secured a 2-1 win in Atlanta, advancing to the final against Spain.
The match was held amidst heightened security due to historical tensions between the two nations. Argentina scored two late goals, with Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez contributing to their comeback victory. This incident marks a repeat of a similar event in 2014, when the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 by Fifa for a banner with the same message displayed before a friendly match against Slovenia. Fifa‘s regulations prohibit political actions and team misconduct.
Political Statements and Historical Context
The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory, are the subject of an ongoing sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina. A conflict over the islands, located 300 miles off Argentina‘s east coast, occurred from April to June 1982. This 74-day conflict resulted in the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, along with three individuals from the islands.
Prior to the semi-final, Argentina‘s Vice-President Victoria Villarruel made comments on social media, referring to the English as “usurping pirates” and stating that the match was “not just another match.” She also posted a video that appeared to show Argentine soldiers, and wrote, “The Falklands are Argentine. They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.” Villarruel‘s father participated in the 1982 Falklands War.
In contrast to Villarruel‘s remarks, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had stated before the match that he would not mix football with politics. He described the 1982 conflict as a “very sad period” and emphasised that the match was purely a football game. Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentina midfielder, also acknowledged the historical significance but stressed the importance of focusing on the football match itself, stating that discussions about the Malvinas should occur elsewhere.
Stadium Regulations and Previous Incidents
Fifa‘s stadium code of conduct explicitly bans “banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature” inside stadiums. Despite this, players Lisandro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso were seen holding the banner and waving to fans after the victory. It was not immediately clear how the banner entered the stadium.
Security measures for the semi-final in Atlanta included a ban on items with provocative messages, whether political or racial. Argentina‘s security minister, Alejandra Monteoliva, had confirmed that 1,600 officers would be present to ensure a peaceful celebration and that the entry of such elements was prohibited. This incident follows previous chants by Argentina players referencing the Falklands, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi after their 3-2 win against Egypt in the last 16.
The Argentina squad will now prepare for the World Cup final against Spain, scheduled to take place in New Jersey on Sunday.
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Source: bbc.com
