Argentina’s World Cup triumph over England was overshadowed by a politically charged provocation as players paraded a banner declaring the Falkland Islands Argentine – an act that risks a Fifa fine and reopens wounds from the 1982 war.
Defending champions Argentina produced a dramatic late comeback in Atlanta, scoring twice in the final five minutes to beat Thomas Tuchel’s side 2-1 and reach Sunday’s final against Spain. But the result was quickly eclipsed by the sight of Lisandro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso grinning while holding a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” – the Falklands are Argentine.
“Argentina players held a 'Falklands are Argentine' banner after the World Cup semi-final win over England, risking a Fifa fine.”
The gesture is a direct reference to the 74-day conflict that killed 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, as well as three islanders. Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the British overseas territory, which in a 2013 referendum voted overwhelmingly to remain under UK rule.
It is not the first time Argentina has used the message on a football pitch. In 2014, Fifa fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after players displayed the same slogan before a friendly against Slovenia, ruling it breached rules on political action and team misconduct. Fifa’s stadium code of conduct bans “banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature”.
Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul sought to play down the politicisation, saying: “We understand it’s a football game that transcends; it brings back memories of what Diego did. We sing songs about our Malvinas heroes, mainly to remember them, but we have to understand that it’s a football match and that the Malvinas have to be discussed elsewhere. What happened was an atrocity and we always remember the fallen, but what we want is to win this match to get to the final.”
Before the semi-final, Argentina fans were accused of booing England’s national anthem, drawing anger from social media users. Coach Lionel Scaloni had earlier insisted he would not mix politics with football. After the win, Argentina’s security minister, Alejandra Monteoliva, announced that 1,600 officers would be deployed for the final celebration, urging it to be peaceful.
The banner appeared amid heightened tensions. After Argentina’s quarter-final win over Switzerland, some players were heard chanting: “For the Malvinas, for Diego [Maradona] and for Leo [Messi]’s last one.”
Fifa has yet to respond to requests for comment, but the prospect of a fine looms as the world champions prepare to face Spain in New Jersey.
