By Emeka Dennar
The Falkland Islands Government has condemned Argentina’s national team for displaying a banner claiming “The Falklands are Argentinian” after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England, calling it “insensitive” and urged FIFA to sanction the players.
The incident occurred after Argentina’s victory over The Three Lions at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday July 15th, when Lionel Messi and teammates were seen waving a sign reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”.
Falkland Islands Respond
In a statement, the Falkland Islands Government said:
“The Falklands government is disappointed – though regrettably not surprised – that the Argentine football team decided to tarnish the result of last night’s World Cup football semi-final – a game that did not in any case involve the Falkland Islands.”
The statement added that the banner was “particularly insensitive” given the 1982 conflict which left many islanders traumatised. The government said it does “not wish to see politics being brought into sport” and called on FIFA to ‘make good on their promise to keep politics out of sport’ and sanction the display.
UK Government Backs Falklands
Downing Street backed the Islands’ sovereignty, with a spokesperson saying: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.”
Cabinet minister Peter Kyle called it “entirely inappropriate”. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said “The Falkland Islands are British. The Conservatives will always defend them.”
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey referenced a 2024 ban on Spanish players for chanting about Gibraltar, and said Argentine players should “be barred from the final”.Argentina’s ResponseArgentina defender Gonzalo Montiel claimed the banner “was thrown down from the stands”.
Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei has defended the players, saying “It is perfectly valid and legitimate for the players to want to express themselves” and boasted they would likely only face a fine.
Prior to kick-off, Argentina’s National Security Minister had warned fans against bringing “political” flags into the stadium.
FIFA Sanctions Likely
Under FIFA’s disciplinary code, political gestures typically result in financial penalties and formal warnings rather than match bans. The Argentine Football Association is expected to face a hefty fine.The Falklands is a British Overseas Territory 300 miles off Argentina’s coast. Tensions were already high after Argentina protested a Royal Navy ship, HMS Medway, sailing near the Islands this month.
