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Argentina Faces Disciplinary Action Over Falklands Banner

Argentina face the prospect of disciplinary action from Fifa after players celebrated their World Cup semi-final win over England with a banner supporting Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

The defending champions produced a late comeback in Atlanta, scoring twice to beat Thomas Tuchel’s side 2-1 and secure a final against Spain on Sunday.

Argentina warned after semi-final celebrations

After the final whistle, Argentina players held up a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — a message translated as “The Falklands are Argentine”. They also sang chants that referenced the islands and Argentine greats Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi following their previous last-16 win over Egypt.

Falklands sovereignty dispute

The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean and remain at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.

The two countries fought a war over the islands, located about 300 miles off Argentina’s east coast, from April to June 1982. The 74-day conflict resulted in the deaths of 655 Argentine servicemen and 255 British servicemen, with three fatalities among islanders.

In 2014, Fifa fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 after Argentina players displayed a banner carrying the same message during a friendly against Slovenia. Fifa said the gesture breached rules on political activity and team misconduct.

Villarruel highlights message online

Following Wednesday’s win, Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel posted on X alongside a video that appeared to show Argentine soldiers. She shared the line “The Falklands are Argentine” and said stadium access restrictions had been imposed, while adding that the islands remained part of Argentinians’ “blood and hearts”.

In the build-up to the match, Villarruel had said the semi-final was about putting “invaders” in their place. Manager Lionel Scaloni, however, had previously said he would not mix football with politics.

He said the match was a football game and that it should be approached with respect for a period of conflict in the countries’ history, while arguing that the sport should not be confused with war elsewhere in the world.

UK minister calls banner inappropriate

MP Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, said the banner was “entirely inappropriate” and that he expected Fifa to investigate. He told BBC Breakfast that an inquiry was likely, given the breach of rules prohibiting political activity as part of football.

The semi-final itself was played under increased security measures due to historical tensions between the two nations. England’s run ended when Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late to seal Argentina’s 2-1 victory.

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16 July 2026

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sungod Ruby Member

sungod

Advanced Member
11 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I already noted the importance of that before on this topic.

There indeed is massive arrogance on both sides.

I've seen a difference though.

Argentinians are usually willing to acknowledge the UK narrative.

UK people on the other hand totally dismiss Argentinian claims as out of hand.

Really, do you follow the news?

Have you seen the comments from the Argentinian vice president, the songs their national team sing, their latest antics on the world stage?

Not exactly conciliatory.

I haven’t seen anything similar coming out of the UK apart from the normal jibes by individuals on social media.

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Advanced Member

What I'm saying is to have some compassion for the feelings of Argentinians on this.

They have not forgotten their war dead who were brutally slaughtered because they had a leader that took them to a war where they had zero chance.

RayC Ruby Member

RayC

Advanced Member

42 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Probably over 99 percent of Argentinians think Las Malvinas Son Argentinas..

The arrogance of the UK side thinking they're all crazy or wrong.

A YouGov poll in 2024 found that 57% of the UK believe that the Falklands should remain British. (I suspect that this figure would be significantly higher at this moment).

The arrogance of the Argentine side thinking that the majority of Brits are wrong.

RayC Ruby Member

RayC

Advanced Member
50 minutes ago, Hummin said:

The more fuss about it, the less sympathy for England. The only ones who win from this are Argentina. The rest of the world does not care, only England.

That may well be true and whilst it would be extremely naive to think that sports and politics can be separated, nevertheless, nearly every major sports governing body - including FIFA - has rules in place prohibiting individuals and teams from using events to make political statements.

Therefore, FIFA has a choice. Either erase that rule or punish the Argentina players - either individually or collectively - for breaking it.

Hummin Star Member

Hummin

Advanced Member
6 minutes ago, RayC said:

That may well be true and whilst it would be extremely naive to think that sports and politics can be separated, nevertheless, nearly every major sports governing body - including FIFA - has rules in place prohibiting individuals and teams from using events to make political statements.

Politics

Therefore, FIFA has a choice. Either erase that rule or punish the Argentina players - either individually or collectively - for breaking it.

A complicated matter, especially when the 3,500 locals on these remote islands do not want to be part of Argentina. And to be fair, they are about 500 km from the Argentine mainland. So I agree: the World Cup should not be used as an arena for political propaganda.

Still, my main point is that this is a battle the UK will not win in the world’s eyes.

RayC Ruby Member

RayC

Advanced Member
1 minute ago, Hummin said:

A complicated matter, especially when the 3,500 locals on these remote islands do not want to be part of Argentina. And to be fair, they are about 500 km from the Argentine mainland. So I agree: the World Cup should not be used as an arena for political propaganda.

Still, my main point is that this is a battle the UK will not win in the world’s eyes.

I'd imagine that the majority of the world's population - outside of the UK and Argentina - wouldn't have even known of the Falklands existence before this WC started, and don't care one way or the other about its' sovereignity.

RayC Ruby Member

RayC

Advanced Member
17 minutes ago, Packer said:

By all accounts the British navy would still be using the same ships.

I was about to reply with a laughing emoji, but your statement is probably true and it isn't a laughing matter.

Bannoi Gold Member

Bannoi

Advanced Member
4 minutes ago, RayC said:

I was about to reply with a laughing emoji, but your statement is probably true and it isn't a laughing matter.

Three frigates HMS Richmond, HMS Iron Duke and HMS Chiddingfold are being decommissioned that leaves the Royal Navy with just 5 frigates and no replacements until at least 2028 at the earliest.

The first three type 26 frigates are expected to enter service before 2030, with the remaining five joining after 2030.

Jingthing Legendary Member

Jingthing

Advanced Member

Forget all this.

Time to kick Spain's butt!

RayC Ruby Member

RayC

Advanced Member
58 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Forget all this.

Time to kick Spain's butt!

Kier Starmer was asked who he would be supporting in the final. #10 issued a statement saying, "The PM wishes both teams the best of luck ... especially Spain"😁

Hummin Star Member

Hummin

Advanced Member
7 minutes ago, RayC said:

I'd imagine that the majority of the world's population - outside of the UK and Argentina - wouldn't have even known of the Falklands existence before this WC started, and don't care one way or the other about its' sovereignity.

I can only speak for myself. In Norway, I remember the intense media coverage of the short war in the 80s. I was a teenager then, and at that time had massive sympathy for the UK. I guess the same went for many of Britain’s allies and friends. Prince Andrew was portrayed as a war hero, as I remember, but a lot has changed since then.

And a new conflict can be a perfect distraction, in a world where many things happen at the same time.

JAG Ruby Member

JAG

Advanced Member
(edited)
8 hours ago, Jingthing said:

There is a lot more to the history than that.

Well, I suppose there is, if you consider that the dormant (and long settled by a treaty) claim was resurrected by Juan Peron, enthusiastic protege of and self appointed South American equivalent of Messrs Hitler, Mussolini and Franco. Peron's regime incidently being the primary destination for fleeing Nazis and their loot in 1945. They were welcomed, and found a purpose if not formal employment as advisors to his regime. That may go some way towards explaining the enthusiasm for resurrecting the claim that the Islands had been stolen by The British.

There is a lot more to the history of that part of the world than was "covered" by Andrew Lloyd Weber in "Evita", although it did have some jolly good tunes!

As another bitter enemy of the British, albeit from a totally different political and geographical sphere, has gone on record as saying "They haven't gone away you know!"

Edited by JAG

Yagoda Star Member

Yagoda

Advanced Member
(edited)
5 hours ago, JonnyF said:

The coach is German and made possibly the worst substitutions and tactical moves in the history of the World Cup

that " bloody hun" did it on purpose. exact quote from my mates

Edited by Yagoda

Jim Blue Platinum Member

Jim Blue

Advanced Member
6 hours ago, RayC said:

Kier Starmer was asked who he would be supporting in the final. #10 issued a statement saying, "The PM wishes both teams the best of luck ... especially Spain"😁

9 hours ago, Taboo2 said:

The Argies can try and take it back....no one is stopping them.

That would mean thousands of Falklanders

arriving on Britsh shores , probably by boat!

Not sure how that would go down in the UK?

SiSePuede419 Ruby Member

SiSePuede419

Advanced Member

US threatens Britain over Falklands

Pentagon officials warn UK to boost defence spending or risk losing support for sovereignty over the islands

Say, have you guys tried any of this new Trump Beef?

It's very patriotic tasting. I just ate some for breakfast before my Tango lessons. 🕺

s-l1200 (10).webp

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