UK urges FIFA to probe Argentina’s Falklands banner at World Cup

The British government on Thursday called on FIFA to investigate Argentina's national team after players displayed a politically charged banner declaring "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" — "The Falklands are Argentine" — during on-pitch celebrations following their 2-1 World Cup semifinal victory over England in Atlanta on Wednesday.reuters+2

U.K. Business Secretary Peter Kyle described the players' behavior as "entirely inappropriate," telling BBC Breakfast that "politics needs to be separate from" sport. A Downing Street spokesperson urged FIFA to investigate what the government called an "egregious" breach of tournament rules.dailyjournal+2

FIFA Rules and Precedent

The incident appears to contravene FIFA's Stadium Code of Conduct, which prohibits "banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature" inside World Cup stadiums. The International Football Association Board's rulebook further states that "equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images," with offending players or teams subject to sanctions.espn+2

FIFA has not yet publicly responded on whether it will open disciplinary proceedings. However, there is clear precedent: in 2014, FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association 30,000 Swiss francs after players posed with an identical banner before a friendly against Slovenia.indiatoday+2

The Match and Its Aftermath

Argentina came from behind to beat England 2-1, scoring twice in the final minutes to book their place in Sunday's final against Spain. Lisandro Martínez and Giovani Lo Celso were among the players seen brandishing the banner, which fans had reportedly tossed onto the field.thedailystar+3

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had said before the match that he did not want the fixture to become about the territorial dispute over the British Overseas Territory, where a 74-day conflict in 1982 claimed the lives of 655 Argentine servicemen, 255 British servicemen, and three islanders.espn

Kyle told the BBC he had gone to bed before the banner appeared on the pitch but saw the images Thursday morning. "It's entirely inappropriate," he said. "I certainly think that FIFA should investigate."the-independent+1