FIFA opens disciplinary review after Argentina's Falklands banner follows England semi-final win

FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee has launched a review into Argentina’s post-match banner display after the country’s players unfurled a ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ (‘The Falklands are Argentine’) sign following their 2-1 comeback win over England in the World Cup semi-final in Atlanta. The governing body confirmed it is “assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps.”

Argentina secured their place in the final against Spain with a late turnaround, but the celebrations were immediately overshadowed by the political message on the banner. The incident drew particular anger in the UK given the 255 British soldiers who died during the Falklands War in 1982. It was not the first time the issue surfaced during this tournament — Argentina’s players had also sung a chant referencing the Falklands after their 3-2 round-of-16 victory over Egypt.

The Falkland Islands Government responded by writing directly to FIFA, describing the banner as “particularly insensitive for many people in the Falklands.” The letter stated that the government’s standing policy is that “politics should not be brought into sport” and called on FIFA to “sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules.”

“The Falkland Islands Government is disappointed — though regrettably not surprised — that the Argentine football team decided to tarnish the result of last night’s World Cup football semi-final,” the letter read, adding that the Islands’ people “were victims of an aggressive invasion in 1982 which left many traumatised.”

The UK Government issued its own statement, reiterating that “the Falkland Islands definitely are” British, while Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey went further, calling for any players who celebrated with the banner to be barred from Sunday’s final.

FIFA has not indicated a timeline for its disciplinary decision, nor specified which players or officials could face sanctions.