The British government has called on FIFA to investigate Argentina's national team after several players displayed a politically charged banner about the disputed Falkland Islands during celebrations following their World Cup semifinal victory over England, an incident that could place the reigning world champions under disciplinary scrutiny.
Argentina defeated England 2-1 on Wednesday in Atlanta to secure a second consecutive World Cup final appearance, but the jubilant celebrations were quickly overshadowed by controversy.
As players celebrated with supporters after the final whistle, several members of the squad, including Lisandro Martinez and Giovani Lo Celso, held up a banner reading "Las Malvinas son Argentinas" ("The Malvinas are Argentine"), echoing Argentina's longstanding claim over the South Atlantic islands known in Britain as the Falkland Islands.
The banner, apparently handed to the players by fans in the stands, was displayed as the team acknowledged supporters, raising questions over whether the players breached FIFA regulations prohibiting political messaging during official matches and stadium events.
The governing body's Stadium Code of Conduct explicitly bans banners, flags, clothing and other materials deemed political, offensive or discriminatory inside World Cup venues. FIFA had not publicly commented on the incident as of Thursday.
