Argentina’s dramatic World Cup semi-final victory over England has been followed by a political controversy that could bring disciplinary action from FIFA.
The defending champions came from behind to win 2-1 in Atlanta and book a place in another final, but part of their post-match celebration has quickly become a bigger talking point than the result itself.
Several Argentina players were seen displaying a banner referring to the Falkland Islands, known in Argentina as Las Malvinas, as Argentine territory.
The message touches on the long-running sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom, making FIFA scrutiny almost inevitable.
FIFA could act over political banner
According to the BBC, Argentina could be fined after the banner reading “Malvinas are from Argentina” was displayed following the victory over England.
FIFA’s regulations are designed to keep political slogans and gestures away from official matches and tournament celebrations, although no punishment had been confirmed so far.
The Times reported that Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi and Giovani Lo Celso were among those involved in holding the banner.
The newspaper added that disciplinary action is expected to be considered, but a final ruling may not arrive until after the tournament.
The timing is far from ideal for Argentina. Lionel Scaloni’s team are preparing for the World Cup final, and the controversy risks distracting from a remarkable comeback in which Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez overturned England’s lead.
Previous fine shows Argentina face real risk
There is a clear precedent. Reuters reported that FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association 30,000 Swiss francs in 2014 after the national team posed with a similar political banner before a friendly against Slovenia.
FIFA should investigate the incident consistently and avoid allowing the identity of the team or the importance of the final to influence its response.
The territorial dispute is a sensitive political issue, and a World Cup pitch is not the right place for players to promote such messages.
However, any sanction should remain proportionate. A financial penalty appears more likely and more reasonable than a sporting punishment affecting the final.
Argentina earned their place through their performance against England, but the celebration crossed a line FIFA has enforced before.
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Anyone with sanity should have grown weary of England and its arrogance! England is irrelevant. They need to give up the remnants of their ‘Drug-based Empire.’
WHY DOES ARGENTINA KEEP DEMANDING THE FALKLANDS IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO ARGENTINA AND HAS NO ARGENTINIANS LIVING THERE AS THEY ARE ALL OF BRITISH HERITAGE. WE OWE A LOT TO THE BRITISH SO BE MORE RESPECTFUL OF A COUNTRY WHICH HAS GIVEN A LOT TO THE WORLD. ARGENTINA HAS NO ENTITLEMENT TO THE FALKLANDS AND SHOULD STOP THIS DEMAND. THEIR PLAY SHOULD HAVE BEEN LESS FORCEFUL AS THEY PLAYED LIKE THUGS AND SHOULD HAVE HAD A FEW RED CARDS WITH THEIR PLAYS. NOT BEAUTIFUL SOCCER
Thugs indeed. Argentinian players do not have the courage to play without punching their opponents, in this case England, on the back of their head knowing the referee is either blind or bribed to ignore the physical assaults. And then, roll all the turf grimacing in a fake pain like a four year old brat. Both laughable and aggravating. Thugs indeed, not soccer players. I am not English, or blind.
Malvinas sit less than 200 hundred miles off the Argentinian coast, well within their sovereign oceanic platform. The Malvinas, together with the Georgia and Sandwich islands, were taken by force in 1833 by the English armada after evicting a small Argentine community there. After the colonial taking, the crown sent a few British families (“kelpers”) and soldiers to claim residency, which is illegal on an invaded territory. The world does not “owe” anything to British colonizers, who plundered everything they touched and exterminated entire communities who opposed them. So YES, the Malvinas legally belong to Argentina, and will be ours at some point. Say NO to colonialism.
Exactly! It is just like in Quebec, they call us racists because it is OUR COUNTRY AND WE WANT THEM GONE.
If there was a fight on the pitch the English players would win.
I lost much respect for the Argentinian players after the match because, instead of acting like champions and embracing the dignity of the event, they seemed to act like thugs with a not so well disguised racist agenda while drawing inspiration for all of this from their fans in the stands.
Let the punishment reflect this sorry state of affairs.
You are obviously an Englishman. Futbol is politics. The thugs and racists are the British empire and all its looting worldwide.
Well Said, Mark!
Las Malvinas as known in Argentina? ‘Not known’, genius, that is its original name. The other name was giving by the thieves, so it is worth zero to the left.
Interesting, the islands have a national football team, but they aren’t FIFA memers (guess their check bounced). They aren’t in CONMEBOL & are excluded from Copa America, etc.
Dilcia, Argentina never owned the Falklands and the Falkland islanders voted by an overwhelming majority of 99.8% to remain British in 2013. Perhaps you should be more informed before making stupid comments
Actually, the stupid, ignorant comment is yours, Matt. The Malvinas were taken by force in 1833 by a British armada, after expelling a small Argentine community there. Then they transplanted a few farmers and soldiers to claim the land, which is illegal. Death to colonialism.
Well Said, Dilcia!
So nothing will happen….lol
Its FIFA – money will change hands, then nothing will happen.
SER – the word to be in Spanish with immplicationl of permanency . SON -third person plural. The sign says: The Malvinas ARE Angentinas.
Abajo FIFA y los criminales Argentinos! VAR got paid off to call back Egypt’s second goal, so take your sorry Argentine a**es back to the Pampas, and remember how your Junta got their a**es handed to them by the Royal Navy and the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern, you sad lot of w*nkers. It’s the Falkland Islands, by the Grace of God, King Harry, Queen Elizabeth the First, and Saint George.
Another idiotic sorry ass loser. 2-1, baby. Vamos Argentina!
Ricky Moonbird: Another colonial whiny bitch, just like the Brit players.
The Argentina players are Hispanic. What else would you expect. Their arrogance is displayed all over the world.
The islands do NOT belong to any prejudice (Nation as effect) with a supremacy, therefore concupiscent, furthermore totally malicious (Religion as cause)