Argentina's president issues direct response to 'worse case scenario' for players over Falklands banner at World Cup
Argentina's players need not to worry about the potential consequences of their stunt at the World Cup semi-final, as the country's president has said he will shoulder the burden.
Javier Milei, 55, has defended the football stars who unfurled a provocative flag referencing the Falkland Islands after beating England 2-1 and dashing our dreams of making it to the final.
He has described their antics as 'understandable, perfectly valid and legitimate' - suggesting he isn't in fear of facing the wrath of FIFA - while sharing his support for players staking a claim to the British Overseas Territory.
Argentina's win on Wednesday (15 August) has been overshadowed by allegations of 'favouritism', tensions boiling over on the pitch and the political row which has erupted due to a rabble-rousing banner.
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The South American side celebrated their triumph by parading around the Atlanta Stadium while clutching a banner that read 'Las Malvinas son Argentinas', which translates to 'The Falkland Islands are Argentinian'.
Players have since claimed that the banner was 'thrown down from the stands' by fans.
A formal investigation into the incident has not yet been confirmed by FIFA, however, the global governing football body announced it is currently 'assessing match reports' as part of 'standard procedure'.
A spokesperson told LADbible that FIFA is 'considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA Disciplinary Code'.
Any items which are 'political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind' are banned at football games.
Argentina's inflammatory display at the semi-finals has sparked something of a diplomatic row, as the UK government said in response: "The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are."
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: "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."
When asked who Starmer would be supporting on Sunday, they added: "The PM wishes both teams well for the final, especially Spain."
The Falkland Islands Government also spoke of its 'disappointment' about the ‘insensitive’ display at the World Cup, while urging teams to keep politics and sports separate.
"Nor do we wish the Islands and their people to be used as a political football in every conversation about England and Argentina," it said. "We welcome the UK Government’s supportive statement."
However, Argentina's president isn't of the same opinion - as Milei has insisted that footie aces had every right to 'express themselves'.
"The Malvinas are Argentine," the controversial politician said. "What the players did is understandable; emotion got the better of them. They did it, and that will probably lead to a discussion of an economic sanction.
"It is perfectly valid and legitimate for the players to want to express themselves and do so. The things that happen on the field with the players are not part of diplomacy."
Milei then shared his thoughts on the national team potentially being penalised by FIFA for the display - and didn't seem to fussed about the prospect of a financial penalty.
"In the worst-case scenario, Argentina will face a £20,000 economic sanction from FIFA," he went on. "We are going to recover the Malvinas, and we will do so through diplomatic means, with intelligence in our actions."
Argentina’s foreign minister Pablo Quirno took to X to state the country is calling for talks with the UK to find 'a peaceful and definitive solution to the sovereignty dispute and bring an end to the special and particular colonial situation in which they are immersed'.
Downing Street said the UK’s stance on the Falklands was not going to change, with a spokesperson for Number 10 saying: "The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we’ve always stood behind the islanders’ right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK."
The scores every time England have played Argentina
2005 - Friendly - England 3 - 2 Argentina
2002 - World Cup, group stage - England 1 - 0 Argentina
2000 - Friendly - England 0 - 0 Argentina
1998 - World Cup, round of 16 - England 3 - 4 Argentina (penalties) - David Beckham red-carded
1991 - England Challenge Cup - England 2 - 2 Argentina
1986 - World Cup, quarter-finals - England 1 - 2 Argentina - Diego Maradona's 'hand of God' goal
1980 - Friendly - England 3 - 1 Argentina
1977 - Friendly - England 1 - 1 Argentina
1974 - Friendly - England 2 - 2 Argentina
1966 - World Cup, quarter-final - England 1 - 0 Argentina - referred to by Argentina as 'the theft of the century'
1964 - Taça das Nações - England 0 - 1 Argentina
1962 - World Cup, group stage - England 3 - 1 Argentina
1953 - Friendly - England 0 - 0 Argentina
1953 - Friendly - England 1 - 3 Argentina
1951 - Friendly - England 2 - 1 Argentina
England has won 60 percent of their World Cup clashes with Argentina.
Of their games overall, England has won 40 percent, Argentina 27 percent, and the rest have been draws.
Olivia Burke