Falklands poster row spills over: British government seeks FIFA action against Argentina

Argentina’s Giovani Lo Celso holds a banner reading “Malvinas are Argentines,” referring to the Falkland Islands, as teammate Nicolas Otamendi gestures to him at the end of the World Cup semifinal match between England and Argentina in Atlanta, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo) The British government has called on FIFA to investigate Argentina’s soccer team after their players displayed a banner declaring sovereignty over the Falkland Islands during celebrations following their World Cup semi-final victory over England.Argentina beat England 2-1 in the World Cup semi-finals in Atlanta on Wednesday. During the post-match celebrations, the Argentine players posed with a banner handed to them by fans in the stands that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Malvinas are Argentines”). Argentina refers to the Falkland Islands as Islas Malvinas.The team could face disciplinary action from FIFA under rules that prohibit political messages on the pitch.British Business Secretary Peter Kyle criticized the players’ actions, saying they crossed the line between sport and politics.“Politics must be separated from football,” Kyle told the BBC. “In fact, one of the guiding principles of the World Cup is that politics is separate from football.“That is now a matter for FIFA. I expect FIFA to investigate thoroughly.”The England-Argentina rivalry goes beyond football over a long-running dispute over the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory with a population of around 3,500. The islands are located about 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) from the United Kingdom and about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from Argentina.Argentina claims the islands were illegally taken from it in 1833. Britain claims its claim dates back to 1765 and that it sent a warship to the islands in 1833 to remove Argentine forces attempting to assert sovereignty over the territory.The dispute led to the Falklands War in 1982 after Argentina invaded the islands. The conflict lasted 10 weeks and ended when Britain regained control. A total of 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British personnel and three islanders were killed.