Argentina demand talks over ‘illegitimately occupied’ Falkland Islands days before England match

Just days before the England clash

The 1982 conflict in the South Atlantic came just before an infamous meeting with Argentina in the 1986 World Cup, where Diego Maradona described his 'Hand of God' goal as 'symbolic revenge' for the defeat in the war that lasted 10-weeks, which cost the lives of 649 Argentines and 255 British soldiers.

Over 40 years on, players celebrated their win over Switzerland to book their semifinal with England with the chant: "For the Malvinas, For Diego, For Leo's last one".

Now, Quirno has gone one step further, hitting out at the UK's 'illegitimate occupation' of the Falklands days before the World Cup clash.

Writing in his newspaper column, Quirno wrote: 'Time does not transform an illegitimate occupation into sovereignty. Nor will it divide the territorial unity of the Argentine Republic

'Our claim will not be relinquished, resigned, or abandoned. The Falkland Islands are history, territory, sea, memory, and destiny. They are a promise between generations.

'They are the voice of a nation that knows how to wait without giving up and knows how to demand without surrendering.' 

Shadow Foreign Minister Priti Patel was quick to respond to the quotes from Quirno:

'Argentina’s latest comments about the Falkland Islanders are as offensive as they are wrong,' Patel shared in a statement on X. 'The people of the Falkland Islands are proudly British, and their right to self-determination is absolute. 

'No amount of revisionist rhetoric from Buenos Aires will change that. Britain will always stand firmly with the Falkland Islanders.'