Argentina face major FIFA sanction after World Cup semi-final victory

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Argentina face possible disciplinary action from FIFA after celebrating their World Cup semi-final win over England by displaying a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”, in reference to the 1982 Falklands war.

The reigning world champions came back from 1-0 down to book their place in Sunday’s World Cup final thanks to late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez, and they will face the current European champions Spain as they look to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend their crown.

Anthony Gordon had opened the scoring for England in the 55th minute, but the Three Lions immediately sat back into a low block after the goal and were soon undone by waves of Argentina pressure.

The match was a spicy affair, particularly in the first-half when several England players were on the receiving end of late challenges, and the tension continued after full-time, when Jude Bellingham clashed with Argentina substitute Valentin Barco.

Ahead of the game, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni admitted that he didn’t want the Falklands war to have any bearing on the fixture, but his players held up a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” - which translates to "The Falkland Islands are Argentinian" - after the full-time whistle. The banner was carried by Lisandro Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso, Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Romero and several others, and it was left on the pitch after the Argentina squad departed down the tunnel.

The banner refers to The Falklands Islands, a British overseas territory that Argentina has repeatedly claimed sovereignty over. In 1982, a 74-day conflict broke out, known as the Falklands war, during which 655 Argentine servicemen, 255 British servicemen and three people from the islands died before Argentina eventually surrendered.

The Falkland Islands are roughly 8,000 miles from Britain and 300 miles from mainland Argentina, and FIFA could be called into action as a result of the banner.

Argentina face FIFA punishment

FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) are extremely strict on any political flags, slogans and symbols being displayed at major tournaments, and Argentina could therefore face a significant punishment for their Falklands banner.

IFAB's rulebook states: “Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer's logo.

“For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA."

In 2014, Argentina were fined £20,000 after holding up a flag with the same message before a friendly versus Slovakia, and a similar, or worse, punishment could be issued again following their latest indiscretion.

Meanwhile, Jon Craig, Sky’s chief political correspondent, said on Sky News: “I think there'll be real anger from British politicians about that and I think what might happen here is there will be some calls from British politicians for some sort of disciplinary action against the five Argentina players who play in the Premier League.

“Fines, visas, I don’t know, but I can just imagine some angry reaction especially from Conservative politicians and possible Reform politicians."