Argentina

FIFA is considering whether to take disciplinary action against Argentina.

Some of their players celebrated their World Cup semi-final victory over England with a flag carrying a political message about the Falkland Islands, the Standard reports.

The defending champions came from behind to beat England 2-1 late in the game, booking their place in the World Cup final against Spain.

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However, their post-match celebrations caught the eye, and they could be punished.

Several Argentinian players posed with a flag reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, which translates to ‘The Falklands are Argentinian’.

The Falkland Islands are the subject of a long-running sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina.

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Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United centre-backs Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez were among players pictured with the flag.

Fans and players also sang songs linked to the Falklands conflict, while similar content appeared on the Argentina national team’s social media accounts.

The incident has attracted attention because FIFA’s tournament rules prohibit political messages and demonstrations during the World Cup. 

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Football’s governing body has confirmed that it is reviewing what happened before deciding whether any disciplinary measures are necessary.

A FIFA spokesperson said the organisation’s independent Disciplinary Committee is examining the official match reports and all relevant circumstances before determining if further action should be taken under the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

If FIFA concludes that its rules were breached, possible sanctions could include financial penalties.

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Player suspensions are also among the options available, although the outcome will depend on the investigation’s findings.

The UK government has since responded to the incident. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. 

“Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders, and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.

“More broadly, potential action is a matter for FIFA, but it’s been a fantastic World Cup, and we’ve said throughout that politics should stay out of football.”

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Source: Footballtoday.com