World Cup Semi-final: Argentina and the Falklands
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
Disciplinary action by FIFA can be expected after the Argentina 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 banner stated, "Las Malvinas son Argentinas", which, in English, means "The Falklands are Argentine".
The Falkland Islands are a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, and the subject of a sovereignty dispute between Britain and Argentina.
The two nations went to war, from April to June 1982, over the islands, which are situated 300 miles off the east coast of Argentina.
In that war, 655 Argentine and 255 British servicemen, along with three people from the islands, were killed.
FIFA stated that the banner infringed rules on political gestures.
In fact, in 2014, the Argentine Football Association was fined by FIFA £20,000 (around €24,000) after its players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly match against Slovenia.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
