Downing Street has backed calls for Fifa to investigate whether Argentina players broke rules by waving a banner in support of their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands, and insisted: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.”
An international row was sparked when Argentine players held up a banner that read ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, which translates to ‘The Falkland Islands are Argentinian’, in the wake of their 2-1 victory over England in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday night.
Tensions between the UK and Argentina boiled over following the football clash, with Argentina accusing a British warship of an “illegal journey” into its waters, just hours after its victory.
But No 10 claimed the journey was in accordance with international law and said Argentina was fully notified of the ship’s movement, which was part of a “routine logistics visit to Chile”.
Speaking about the politically charged banner, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “The World Cup might not be ours but the Falkland Islands definitely are.
“Our position is unchanged, self determination rests with the islanders. Our commitment to the Falklanders will never waver.”
She added that any action to be taken “rests with Fifa”, adding: “We’ve said throughout that politics should stay out of football”.
The spokesperson also backed remarks from business secretary Peter Kyle, who had said the intervention from Argentina was “entirely inappropriate” and called for football’s governing body to investigate their actions.
“I saw the images this morning, and of course, it’s entirely inappropriate”, he told Sky News. “Politics should stay away from football. That is a very clear principle of the World Cup, but any consequences that come from that is now a decision for Fifa.”
Speaking to the BBC, he added: “We expect Fifa to undertake an investigation into this. I think it was certain to happen because it was such an egregious violation of the rules of not having political activity as part of the football.”
The team could face disciplinary action and a fine for violating Fifa rules banning political messaging on the pitch.
Political tensions linger between Argentina and the UK over the Falkland Islands, which escalated into armed conflict in 1982 after Argentina invaded the islands.
Buenos Aires has repeatedly claimed sovereignty over the Falklands, which are about 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina.
Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel described England as “invaders” and “usurping pirates” in the build-up to the fixture, and tweeted a victory message at full-time by saying, “it wasn’t just another match”, alongside a video of what appeared to be Argentinian soldiers.
Later on Wednesday, night, she shared images of the players holding the banner, along with a message which translated to: “The Falklands are Argentine! They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”
The intervention came as Pablo Quirno, Argentina’s foreign minister, accused the Royal Navy of a “military incursion” into Argentine waters in a statement hours after the game ended.
He claimed HMS Medway, an offshore patrol vessel based in the Falkland Islands, had entered Argentina’s waters earlier in July without formally notifying the government. In his statement, he said a “formal note of protest” had been lodged with the British embassy to express “the strongest objection” to the action.
But No 10 hit back, claiming it had notified Argentina of the planned trip.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “The facts here are that we notified the Argentinian government in advance of HMS Medway taking a routine logistics visit to Chile between 5 and 8 July to support British Antarctic survey operations, which will deliver essential stores and supplies to sustain scientific research in Antarctica.
“The Royal Navy always operates in full compliance with international law. Transit from the Falkland Islands to Chile was carried out by the most direct practical route considering operational safety and weather factors to ensure timely delivery.”
Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, beat the Three Lions 2-1 in Atlanta.
Fans celebrated their victory jubilantly, with some near the pitch holding a banner which read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”. It eventually made its way to the players, who held it up as they revelled in their win.
Their actions sparked furious backlash in the UK, with former army officer and ex-foreign and defence minister Tobias Ellwood telling The Independent: “Win or lose, do so with grace. This planned act wasn’t just about riling England, but about helping Argentina handle the humiliation of 1982 – which still hugely rattles the country today.
“Let’s ignore this pathetic stunt, leave Fifa to impose sanctions, and be proud of England’s World Cup performance.”
Meanwhile, Admiral Lord West – the former head of the Navy and the commanding officer of HMS Ardent, a frigate that was sunk in the Falklands conflict – said it was “pathetic child like behaviour that we should ignore”.
“Although I hope Fifa take some disciplinary action”, he added.
Falklands War hero Simon Weston, who was injured serving in the conflict during the bombing of the RFA Sir Galahad, said the players had “cheapened” their victory with the stunt.
He told The Independent that seeing the banner waved caused him “great sadness at the lack of professionalism, the lack of maturity of the Argentine players”.
“It also made me feel very sad for the Falkland Islanders, who have made it clear who they want to govern them. It’s not for others to tell people who they should align with. That’s called freedom; it’s called democracy,” he said.
Former security minister and army officer Tom Tugendhat described the banner as the “raging of a bankrupt and corrupt state diverting attention from their government’s own failures, as they did once before”.
