The UK government has backed calls for FIFA to investigate Argentina’s national football team after players displayed a politically charged banner following their World Cup semi-final victory over England. Several Argentine players were seen holding a banner reading “Las Malvina…
The UK government has backed calls for FIFA to investigate Argentina’s national football team after players displayed a politically charged banner following their World Cup semi-final victory over England. Several Argentine players were seen holding a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Malvinas are Argentine” — during celebrations after their 2-1 win over England in Atlanta on Wednesday. The message referred to Argentina’s long-standing sovereignty claim over the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as the Malvinas. The islands are a British overseas territory and were at the centre of the 1982 war between the UK and Argentina. UK Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the display as inappropriate and said FIFA should investigate the incident under its disciplinary rules prohibiting political messages at stadiums. A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also supported calls for FIFA to examine the matter. FIFA and security officials had reportedly prohibited supporters from bringing banners asserting sovereignty over the islands into the stadium ahead of the politically sensitive semi-final. FIFA has yet to announce whether it will formally open disciplinary proceedings against the Argentine Football Association or the players involved. Argentina will face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday. (Newswire)