Argentina faces potential fines over Falkland Islands banner at World Cup semi-final
Argentina’s players displayed a banner stating ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ after their semi-final victory, potentially leading to a fine from FIFA for violating its Stadium Code of Conduct.
Parading the political banner risks another fine for Argentina, as FIFA’s regulations explicitly prohibit political expressions at matches, impacting future participation and institutional compliance.
“They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts,” stated Victoria Villarruel, Argentina’s vice-president.
Argentina risk FIFA fine for ‘Las Malvinas’ banner
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Argentina risked the possibility of disciplinary action following their semi-final victory over England after their players held a banner supporting their country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.
The defending champions came back from 1-0 down to make their way to a second consecutive World Cup final with goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez that sparked celebrations from Atlanta to Buenos Aires.
But the decision to parade a banner reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’ (The Malvinas are Argentine) could lead to a fine from football’s governing body.
In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined 30,000 Swiss francs (€32,455) when players posed for photos in front of a banner with the same message in the build-up to a fixture against Slovenia.
According to FIFA’s Stadium Code of Conduct, published before the tournament began, “banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature” are prohibited.
The vice-president of Argentina, Victoria Villarruel, posted, “They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”
The Falkland Islands were the focus of a war between the UK and Argentina in 1982, in which 655 Argentine and 255 British soldiers were killed.
Argentina has long claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which it calls the Islas Malvinas, arguing the South Atlantic archipelago was unlawfully occupied by Britain in 1833.
The UK rejects the claim, maintaining it has sovereignty over the islands and that the islanders overwhelmingly voted in a 2013 referendum to remain a British Overseas Territory.
The UN does not endorse either country’s sovereignty claim, but has repeatedly called on both governments to resume negotiations to reach a peaceful settlement.