Why FIFA may sanction Argentina after World Cup win over England

Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA after several of its players celebrated their World Cup semi-final victory over England by displaying a banner supporting the country’s claim to the Falkland Islands.

The reigning champions came from behind to beat England 2-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta, booking a place in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain with two late goals.

After the final whistle, a group of Argentinian players held up a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” (“The Falklands are Argentine”), a political message that could put the team at risk of sanctions from world football’s governing body.

The Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, remain the subject of a long-running sovereignty dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom. The disagreement culminated in the 1982 Falklands War, a 74-day conflict that claimed the lives of 655 Argentine troops, 255 British servicemen and three islanders.

FIFA has taken action over a similar incident in the past. In 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined £20,000 after the national team displayed the same banner before an international friendly against Slovenia. FIFA ruled that the act violated its rules prohibiting political messages and team misconduct.

Argentina’s vice president, Victoria Villarruel, also fuelled the controversy after the match, posting on X that “It wasn’t just another match” alongside a video appearing to show Argentine soldiers.

She added, “The Falklands are Argentine. They banned bringing them to the stadium and forgot that we carry them in our blood and our hearts.”

Before the semi-final, Villarruel had described the encounter with England as “about putting the invaders in their place.”

The players had already attracted attention after their Round of 16 victory over Egypt by singing chants referencing the Falkland Islands, as well as Argentine football icons Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

Despite the growing political undertone, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni insisted before the match that football should not be mixed with politics.

“The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago.

“It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it. We certainly remember those people, but it is a football match. We shouldn’t confuse the two.”

The semi-final, settled by late goals from Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez after England had gone ahead, was played under heightened security because of the historical tensions between the two nations.

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