Argentine players display the Falklands banner after the game. Photo: Getty Images
Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA after several of its players celebrated their World Cup semi-final victory over England by displaying a banner supporting the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.
The reigning champions came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta, booking a place in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain with two late goals.
After the final whistle, a group of Argentinian players held up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”), a political message that could put the team at risk of sanctions from world football’s governing body.
The Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, remain the subject of a long-running sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom. The disagreement culminated in the 1982 Falklands War, a 74-day conflict that claimed the lives of 655 Argentine troops, 255 British servicemen and three islanders.
