FIFA responds after Argentina’s Falklands flag stunt following semi final win

They could get punished

The world champions scored twice late in the game to defeat England 2-1 in Atlanta and secured another World Cup final.

But during their celebrations after the game, Argentina players held up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.

The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean and they remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina.

FIFA’s statement regarding Argentina’s celebrations

In a statement after the game, a FIFA spokesperson said: “As is standard procedure, FIFA's independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA disciplinary code.”

For holding a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia back in 2014, Argentina's football association were fined £20,000 by FIFA.

The world football's governing body said at the time that the gesture had breached rules on political action and team misconduct.

Meanwhile, the UK government has supported calls for FIFA to investigate, with the prime minister's official spokesperson saying: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.”

On the other hand, according to reports in the media, Argentina's President Javier Milei called the players' action “understandable” and “valid”.

However, in comments he made to Radio El Observador, he also made clear that “the things that happen on the pitch are not part of diplomacy”.

“Indeed, the Malvinas are Argentine, we are going to recover them, and we're going to do it in the diplomatic field, by acting intelligently,” he added.

The islands were invaded by Argentina in 1982, while they were ruled by a military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri.

The islands are situated 300 miles off Argentina's east coast.

The Falklands War, which lasted for 74 days between April to June 1982, led to the deaths of 649 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, while three people from the islands also died.

People living in the Falkland Islands in 2013 voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory.

On a turnout of more than 90% of the people, of 1,517 votes cast in the two-day referendum a total of 1,513 were in favour, while just three votes were against.

How FIFA takes action for regulations breaches

Usually, FIFA take disciplinary action for general breaches of regulations by players or a country's supporters in the weeks after a tournament.

However, this could be taken more seriously because it occurred in a World Cup match between the two countries.

That said though, there is no prospect of Argentina losing their place in the final.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has called for the Argentina players who were holding the banner to be suspended for Sunday's final against Spain.

Davey referenced UEFA's ban of Spain players Alvaro Morata and Rodri for one game after chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish” during their side's Euro 2024 celebrations.

The enclave at Spain's southern tip that has been under British rule since the 18th century and Spain have long called for its return, similarly to Argentina’s case with the Falklands.