White House fires back in response over Argentina Falkland Islands banner
The Whitehouse has thrown its support behind Argentina amid calls for the World Cup finalists to be punished after unfurling a Falkland Islands banner.
Argentina's players sparked fury within political figures in England after several held up a banner after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over the Three Lions, which, referring to their country's name for the Falklands, read 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas.'
Translated into English, it reads: 'The Malvinas are Argentinian.'
FIFA's rules state political messaging during the World Cup is not allowed, with players facing suspensions for breaking the regulations in the past.
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Though FIFA is 'currently assessing' the banner, they are yet to make a ruling ahead of Sunday's (19 July) final with Spain.
However, Donald Trump's head of the White House FIFA task force, Andrew Giuilani, has supported Argentina in the feud.
"We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America," he told the media in Washington on Friday, July 17.
"And in terms of the ability, the opportunity to be able to make statements, (Argentina) has the ability to do that in the United States of America."
There have been calls for the players holding the banner to miss the final
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called for the Argentina players who held the banner to be banned for the final, referencing the one-game suspensions Spanish pair Rodri and Alvaro Morata received for chanting about Gibraltar after defeating England in the Euro 2024 final.
"In August 2024 Rodri and Álvaro Morata were rightly banned for one match for singing “Gibraltar is Spain," Davey wrote on social media.
"Now the Argentine players who celebrated with the “Falklands are Argentine” banner must be barred from the final."
Sir Keir Starmer backed calls for an investigation, with a spokesperson for the Prime Minister saying: "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.
"Our position is unchanged. Self-determination rests with the islanders and our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.
"More broadly, potential action is a matter for Fifa, but it’s been a fantastic World Cup and we’ve said throughout that politics should stay out of football.
"The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain."
A FIFA spokesperson said: "As is standard procedure, FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA Disciplinary Code."
That disciplinary code prohibits ‘banners, flags, flyers, apparel and other paraphernalia that are of a political, offensive, and/or discriminatory nature’ inside stadiums.
However, a decision from FIFA's Disciplinary Committee, and any punishment they may impose, is not expected until after the tournament.
It's not the first time the Argentina squad has referenced the 1982 Falklands conflict - in which 907 people died after Argentina invaded the South Atlantic islands before being defeated by British forces in 74 days - during the tournament, with players repeatedly singing a song referencing it.
FIFA fined the Argentine Football Association £20,000 in 2014 after players held up a banner with the same message before a friendly against Slovenia.
South Korea's Park Jonh-woo was handed a two-game suspension after he brandished a sign that referenced a territorial dispute between his country and Japan after the 2012 Olympic Games bronze medal match.
LADbible has approached FIFA for comment.
Topics: World Cup, Donald Trump
Daniel Murphy