Falklands veterans demand FIFA ban Argentina players over 'Las Malvinas' banner after England win

Falklands War veterans and politicians are calling on FIFA to ban Argentine players from the World Cup final after Lisandro Martinez, Cristian Romero and Julian Alvarez paraded a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “the Falklands are Argentinian” — on the pitch in Atlanta following Argentina’s bad-tempered semi-final win over England.

The sign was brought into the stadium by fans but made its way onto the field after the final whistle. Manchester United defender Martinez, Tottenham’s Romero and former Manchester City forward Alvarez were among those photographed holding it up.

Simon Weston, who sustained severe burns to 46 per cent of his body when Argentine jets bombed the RFA Sir Galahad on 8 June 1982, said the authorities must act. “The authorities should act and show Argentina that it must behave in accordance with the rules,” said the 64-year-old South Wales businessman. “None of the players on the field were alive when the war was on, so I don’t know how they align with this. It is probably the propaganda they have been fed by politicians in Argentina. The act was very immature, but what they are doing is hurtful and bullies always do things to hurt people.”

Weston, a father of three and grandfather of four, added that the manner of the display offered some mitigation: “The message at the game was on a dirty old bedsheet with the words scrawled on it. It would have been worse if they had all been wearing T-shirts with slogans or if it had been pre-planned.”

Jarvis Burt, whose brother Jason was killed by a sniper’s bullet in the Falklands in June 1982 at the age of 17, was less measured in his response. “None of those players were even born when the war took place,” said the 59-year-old. “They should show some respect to all those who died — the Brits and the Argentineans too. If it was the other way round England would have the book thrown at them. This is disgraceful. This war was over 40 years ago and it cost my 17-year-old brother Jason his life.”

The match itself was played in a charged atmosphere, with both national anthems booed loudly inside the stadium. Argentina’s vice-president Victoria Villarruel posted a victory message at full-time alongside a video of what appeared to be Argentine soldiers, having described England as “invaders” and “usurping pirates” in the build-up. In Buenos Aires, supporters carried a Union Flag-shaped coffin and others burned a cross of St George.

Weston called for a political response as well as a sporting one: “The Falkland Islanders are the most important people in all of this. They have to be free to choose their own sovereignty and democracy. They have already done that, backing the British 100 per cent. We need politicians in Argentina to be statesmanlike and not incite hatred.”