FIFA has launched an investigation after Argentina's players displayed what the Falkland Islands Government labeled an 'insensitive' banner following their victory over England. A late comeback in Atlanta saw Argentina secure a 2-1 win, booking their place in the World Cup final.
During the post-match celebrations, a group of Argentina players held aloft a banner reading: "Las Malvinas son Argentinas (The Falklands are Argentine)." This followed Argentina's players singing a chant referencing the Falklands in the aftermath of their 3-2 triumph over Egypt in the Round of 16.
The banner has provoked significant backlash across the UK, with widespread condemnation citing disrespect to the 255 British soldiers who lost their lives during the Falklands War in 1982. A statement from the UK Government released on Thursday morning firmly stated: "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are," as per The Mirror.
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey went as far as calling for any players who celebrated with the banner to be 'barred from' Sunday's final against Spain. The Falkland Islands Government has additionally submitted a formal letter to soccer's global governing body.
FIFA addressed the controversy by stating: "As is standard procedure, FIFA's independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps."
The aforementioned letter read: "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 - a game that did not in any case involve the Falkland Islands.
"That said, it is hardly news to anyone that the people of the Islands were victims of an aggressive invasion in 1982 which left many traumatized. The banner displayed by Argentina last night, therefore, was particularly insensitive for many people in the Falklands.
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"It is the avowed policy of the Falkland Islands Government that we do not wish to see politics being brought into sport. Nor do we wish the Islands and their people to be used as a political football in every conversation about England and Argentina.
"We welcome the UK Government's supportive statement this morning. As Business Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted, the World Cup has as one of its central tenets that politics is separate from football. We hope FIFA will make good on their promise to keep politics out of sport, and sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules."
Source: Alloutsoccer.com
