The Falkland Islands Government wrote to FIFA expressing their ‘disappointment’ after Argentina’s players unfurled an ‘insensitive’ banner after beating England in the World Cup semi-finals
FIFA are investigating after Argentina’s players displayed what the Falkland Islands Government described as an ‘insensitive’ banner following their win against England. A late comeback in Atlanta saw Argentina snatch a 2-1 victory, sending them through to the World Cup final.
During the full-time celebrations, a group of Argentina players held up a banner which read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas (The Falklands are Argentine).” It comes after Argentina’s players sung a chant referencing the Falklands in the wake of their 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16.
The banner has sparked backlash from the UK, with many believing that it was offensive to the 255 British soldiers who were killed during the Falklands War in 1982. A statement from the UK Government issued on Thursday morning reiterated: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.”
Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, even called for any players who celebrated with the banner to be ‘barred from’ Sunday’s final against Spain. The Falkland Islands Government has also written to football’s global governing body.
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FIFA responded to the backlash by saying: “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 traumatised. The banner displayed by Argentina last night, therefore, was particularly insensitive for many people in the Falklands.
“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.”
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