Argentina president defends team over 'legitimate' World Cup banner amid FIFA probe

Samuel MeadeFri, July 17, 2026 at 8:07 AM UTC

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Argentina celebrated with a Falklands-related banner which could land them in hot water -Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited

Argentina's president has acknowledged his players won't hesitate to pay any fine should FIFA sanction them for displaying a flag related to the Falkland Islands. This followed Argentina's comeback victory over England in the World Cup semi-final, overturning a 1-0 deficit to secure their place in Sunday's final.

Anthony Gordon had put the Three Lions ahead in Atlanta, but England's second-half withdrawal allowed Argentina to mount their comeback. Enzo Fernandez equalized with a long-range strike before Lautaro Martinez nodded in Lionel Messi's cross just seven minutes later to clinch Argentina's victory.

In the immediate aftermath, several Argentina players were spotted holding a banner stating: "Las Malvinas son Argentina," which translates to: "The Falklands are Argentine."

The UK government has demanded FIFA examine the incident, arguing it represents a clear breach of regulations prohibiting political messaging and demonstrations.

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Yet controversial Argentine president Javier Milei has stood firmly behind the players, declaring: "The Malvinas are Argentine. What the players did is understandable; emotion got the better of them.

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"They did it, and that will probably lead to a discussion of an economic sanction. It is perfectly valid and legitimate for the players to want to express themselves and do so.

"The things that happen on the field with the players are not part of diplomacy. In the worst-case scenario, Argentina will face a economic sanction from FIFA. We are going to recover the Malvinas, and we will do so through diplomatic means, with intelligence in our actions."

Argentina will play Spain in this Sunday's final

The incident has provoked fury on the islands, with a member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly calling it a "clear political statement regarding the sovereignty" of the islands.

The Falkland Islands government has since written to FIFA demanding disciplinary measures be taken against the Argentine Football Association (AFA).

Falkland Islands politician Jack Ford weighed in on the controversy, stating: "Videos were also leaked following their Argentina vs Egypt fixture in which the Argentinian squad sang chants about the Falkland Islands in their locker rooms.

"We are disappointed, though regrettably not surprised, by this manner of action, as this is not the first such incident..

"The Falkland Islands are a diverse, self-governing, self-funding British Overseas Territory, and engage internationally in sport, science, and humanitarian work as such. In the 2013 referendum on our political status, 99.8 per cent of Falkland Islanders voted to remain a British Overseas Territory, on a turnout of approximately 92 per cent, in a vote independently monitored by international observers."

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Source: “AOL Sports”