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US defends Argentina’s Falklands banner after FIFA World Cup victory over England, citing free speech. FIFA considers disciplinary action amidst UK calls for investigation.
Argentina players hold a banner with the words “The Malvinas are Argentine”, referring to the Falkland Islands, at the end of the World Cup semifinal against England (Picture credit: AP)
The United States government has defended the Argentinian team over the Falklands banner they displayed after their victory over England in the FIFA World Cup semifinal, resulting in immense scrutiny of the players and the football federation.
Argentina could face disciplinary action from FIFA over the incident, which may be deemed a breach of the governing body’s rules on political statements. Asked whether the footballers had acted inappropriately, Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Friday that the team had every right to make those statements while in the United States.
The remarks might intensify the controversy surrounding the incident, with Downing Street already backing calls for FIFA to launch an investigation. The Falkland Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, have long been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Argentina.
After Wednesday’s semi-final, Argentina’s footballers displayed a banner reading ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, Spanish for ‘The Falklands are Argentine’.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Giuliani invoked the United States Constitution’s free speech protections, saying, “We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America.”
Downing Street has backed calls for FIFA to investigate the incident. The Prime Minister’s official spokesperson said: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are. Our commitment to the Falklands will never waver.”
No. 10 added that any action against the Argentine footballers who displayed the banner was ‘a matter for FIFA’, but echoed Business Secretary Peter Kyle’s view that world football’s governing body should investigate the incident.
For its part, the Falkland Islands government said that it was ‘disappointed but not surprised’ by the banner, adding that it hopes FIFA will ‘sanction all behaviour of this nature in line with its own rules’.
FIFA is investigating Argentina over a Falklands banner displayed after their World Cup semifinal win against England. The banner read ‘Las Malvinas son Argentinas’, meaning ‘The Falklands are Argentine’.
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