Argentina Players Display Falklands Banner After Semi-Final Win, Likely to Face FIFA Fine
Argentina's national football team are expected to face a fine from FIFA after players displayed a banner supporting the country's claim to the Falkland Islands following their World Cup semi-final victory over England.
The defending champions secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback win in Atlanta on Tuesday, scoring twice late in the game to defeat Thomas Tuchel's side and set up a final against Spain on Sunday.
After the final whistle, Argentina players celebrated while holding a banner that read 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas' (The Falklands are Argentine). The Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, have been the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina for decades.
The two nations fought a war over the islands from April to June 1982, resulting in the deaths of 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, as well as three Falkland Islanders.
FIFA has previously penalised the Argentine Football Association for similar actions. In 2014, the governing body fined the association £20,000 after players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia. FIFA stated at the time that the gesture violated rules on political action and team misconduct.
This latest incident is likely to be reviewed by FIFA's disciplinary committee, which could impose a financial penalty on the Argentine federation.
