Fifa ‘assessing reports’ over Falklands banner

Fifa is “assessing match reports” before deciding whether to punish Argentina after players celebrated their World Cup semi-final win against England with a banner in support of their country’s claims to the Falkland Islands.

The defending world champions produced a dramatic late comeback in Atlanta, scoring twice to defeat Thomas Tuchel’s side 2-1 and book a showdown with Spain in Sunday’s final.

After the final whistle, Argentina players held up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, which translates as “The Falklands are Argentine”.

The Falklands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina.

In a statement, a Fifa spokesperson said: “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 based on the Fifa Disciplinary Code.”

Argentina’s football association were fined £20,000 by Fifa in 2014 for holding a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia.

At the time, world football’s governing body said the gesture had breached rules on political action and team misconduct.

Downing Street has supported calls for Fifa to investigate, with the prime minister’s official spokesperson saying: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.”

Argentina’s President Javier Milei called the players’ action “understandable” and “valid”, according to media reports.

But he also made clear, in comments made to Radio El Observador, that “the things that happen on the pitch are not part of diplomacy”.

Argentina, ruled at the time by a military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri, invaded the islands, situated 300 miles off Argentina’s east coast, in 1982.

The conflict, which lasted for 74 days between April to June 1982, led to the deaths of 649 Argentine and 255 British servicemen. Three people from the islands also died.

More to follow.

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