Argentina risk Fifa punishment after Falklands banner follows World Cup win over England

Argentina face potential Fifa disciplinary action after several players celebrated their 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory over England by displaying a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Falklands are Argentine” — on the pitch following the final whistle.

Giovani Lo Celso was among those pictured with the banner after the defending champions came from behind to defeat England and book a final place against Spain. The display carries direct precedent: Fifa fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 in 2014 after players held up an identical banner following a friendly win over Slovenia, ruling that it breached regulations on political action and team misconduct.

The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, situated approximately 300 miles off the Argentine coast. Argentina maintains a sovereignty claim to the archipelago, and the two nations fought a 74-day war over the islands in 1982 in which 655 Argentine servicemen, 255 British servicemen, and three islanders were killed. Argentine fans have chanted songs referencing the islands throughout this World Cup.

British government minister Peter Kyle said he was disappointed by the scenes. “I had left and gone to bed before the banner came onto the pitch, but I saw the images this morning, and of course, it’s entirely inappropriate,” the business secretary said. “Politics should stay away from football. That is a very clear principle of the World Cup, but any consequences that come from that is now a decision for Fifa.”

Fifa had been contacted for comment at the time of publication. Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.