Argentina charged by Fifa over ‘The Falklands are Argentine’ banner
Fifa has charged Argentina over the Falkland Islands banner their players unfurled after beating England in the World Cup semi-final.
The flag, which was held aloft by several players following Argentina’s 2-1 victory in Atlanta, triggered a political backlash. It read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.
Among those holding the banner were three players with experience of playing in English football: Cristian Romero, the Tottenham Hotspur captain, Lisandro Martínez, the Manchester United defender, and former Spurs midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.
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Fifa, which is battling a revolt from associations, leagues, players and politicians across the world over its plan to sell stakes in the World Cup, has begun disciplinary proceedings against Argentina.
World football’s governing body said using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature was a potential breach of the disciplinary code.
“The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are,” then prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s deputy spokesman said the day after the game, in response to the post-match goading.
Javier Milei, Argentina’s president, later backed his country’s players, promising to take over the British Overseas Territory through diplomatic means.
It marked a further escalation in the decades-long row over the Falklands, which Argentine politicians had inflamed in advance of the semi-final.
Other alleged breaches by Argentina include discriminatory chants and gestures, late kick-offs, security protocol failures, inappropriate team and spectator messages, and objects thrown by fans across several matches during the tournament.
In 2014, Fifa fined Argentina £20,000 for a similar banner regarding the Falklands was held up by players before a friendly against Slovenia.
Fifa has also opened disciplinary proceedings against several Argentina players for their conduct after the final in New Jersey in which Spain beat Argentina 1-0.
There was a brawl at the final whistle, which was triggered in part by Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes shoving Spain’s Gavi to the ground.
Paredes faces three assault counts while Nahuel Molina faces two counts. Molina, Thiago Almada and Roberto Ayala, Argentina’s assistant coach, face one count each for unsporting behaviour, as does Gavi.
“In accordance with the Fifa Disciplinary Code, the respondents have now been provided with the opportunity to present their position, following which a decision will be issued by the Fifa Disciplinary Committee in due course,” Fifa said.
